Are you an aspiring teacher?

Apply for a Vejayanthran Scholarship which funds 100% of the PGCE qualification (the ONLY qualification that provides professional registration with the South African Council for Educators) at the University of Cape Town.

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About The Vejayanthran Education Fund

Vejayanthran Naidoo was a leading South African educator and principal who served the education community in KwaZulu Natal for over 30 years. He spent most of his career in education as a principal of Esselen Heights Primary, serving the entire school community for 21 years. Under his knowledgeable guidance and leadership, Esselen Heights grew from strength to strength becoming one of the top schools in the country.He felt it was critical to empower and capacitate all those under his leadership. The Vejayanthran Education Fund honours his commitment and continues to build the next generation of education leaders.

Mission

The Vejayanthran Education Fund (VEF) aims to transform the educational landscape of South Africa by empowering future educators.Our mission is to develop 20 new world-class teachers by 2030 by providing scholarships to high-potential students, who face financial constraints, to pursue a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at the University of Cape Town, the number one ranked university on the continent.By fostering highly trained, professional educators, we honour the legacy of Vejayanthran Naidoo and contribute to building a more equitable, high-quality education system in South Africa.

The Problem

South Africa faces a significant decline in the number of aspiring teachers due to the discontinuation of NSFAS funding for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
At the University of Cape Town, 3,000 aspiring teachers apply annually for just 300 available spots. Although 500 offers are extended, only 300 candidates are able to accept due to various challenges. Financial constraints, cited as the primary barrier, prevent 200 aspiring teachers—40% of those offered places—from pursuing their dreamsThis drop off threatens to deepen the shortage of qualified teachers, particularly impacting schools in under-resourced areas.
World class teachers are essential to bridging educational gaps and fostering a higher standard of learning, especially in communities that face socio-economic challenges.Funding high-potential students for their PGCE ensures a consistent influx of skilled, committed educators who can address these challenges and uplift the quality of education in South Africa.

Objectives (2025 - 2030)

Objective 1: Fund and mentor 20 aspiring teachers by 2030
1.1) Ensure at least 90% of scholarship recipients successfully complete their PGCE qualification within the standard one-year timeframe.
1.2) Raise R2 million to enable this funding and mentoring to happen.Objective 2: Achieve professional employment and teaching impact
2.1) Support 100% of recipients in obtaining professional registration with the South African Council for Educators (SACE).
2.2) Ensure that at least 95% of funded students gain professional registration within six months of graduation.
2.3) Track that 80% of scholarship alumni secure teaching positions within a year of graduation.
2.4) Retain scholarship recipients in the education field for a minimum of five years post-graduation. Track and confirm that at least 80% of alumni remain active in the education sector.Objective 3: Strengthening alumni engagement and measuring educational impact
3.1) Establish a structured alumni program to encourage mentorship and professional growth. Ensure 75% of scholarship alumni participate in mentorship or professional development programs within three years of graduation.
3.2) Conduct annual surveys to assess how funded educators are contributing to student performance and the overall school environment, with a 90% positive impact response rate.

The Vejayanthran Scholarship

At the Vejayanthran Education Fund (VEF), our mission is to develop world-class teachers who can inspire and uplift the next generation of South African students. To achieve this, we provide scholarships to high-potential students who face financial constraints, ensuring that passionate and talented individuals can pursue their calling in education.Scholarship OverviewSelected scholarship recipients will receive a scholarship up to the value of R100,000 to pursue a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at the University of Cape Town, the number one ranked university on the continent. Tuition Fees for the PGCE (approx R70,000 in 2025) will be paid in full (this does NOT including residence fees, we only accept day students who live in Cape Town) and a sum of R30,000 will be granted towards travel and other living expenses.This scholarship aims to remove financial barriers, enabling future educators to focus on their studies and professional development.

Eligibility Criteria

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