Need-based Bursary Programme Summary and Terms & Conditions

Interested in the Academic Scholarship Terms and Conditions? Read them here.

1.Overview

At the Nova Pioneer Foundation (the Foundation), we believe in providing affordable quality education to students who will be the future leaders and innovators of Africa. As part of our commitment to making education accessible to all, we are excited to announce our new need-based bursary programme. This programme aims to help families who aspire to join the Nova Pioneer Schools community in South Africa but face financial constraints in affording the school fees. By offering bursaries that cover between 25% to 50% of annual tuition, we aim to support eligible students from Grade 1 to Grade 10 in the 2024 and 2025 academic year at our various campuses in Johannesburg.

Our bursary programme is designed to empower deserving students who demonstrate a genuine need for financial support. We understand that education is a key driver of progress and development, and we are committed to identifying and supporting talented students who may not have the financial means to pursue their educational aspirations. Through this programme, we aim to contribute towards shaping the African century by nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators who will make a positive impact on their communities and beyond.

2. Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the bursary, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Spaces for the Need-based Bursary Programme are limited and will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis (provided the eligibility criteria are met). Completion of the full admissions process (including securing a need-based bursary, as well as the other admissions steps – detailed below) should be complete by 1 October 2024. The Nova Pioneer Foundation will review whether there are any available spaces and may choose to extend the programme after this date.
• Be applying for a place in grades 1 and above in the 2024 and 2025 academic year. We currently do not have any available bursary spaces for students in grades below Grade 1.
• An allocated space for funding support needs to be available for the specific grade/campus being applied to in 2024 or 2025 (i.e. not every grade automatically has allocated spaces  for needs-based support).
• The applicant is required to establish their authentic financial need, and will need to provide the following accompanying documents indicating a household income below R21,000 after tax.
  • Completion of a basic household income and expense statement (template to be provided by Nova Pioneer).
  • Copy of identification documents for both biological parents i.e either a national identity card or passport with visible passport number. These are specifically for the parents listed on the child’s birth certificate as referenced in (e) below.
  • South African Revenue Service IRP5 or any other tax certification that clearly indicates their taxable income for the specified period for the last 2 years from living parent(s) or guardian(s).
  • Proof of income in the form of the most recent payslips or the latest 3 months bank statements for both self employed parents or guardians.

• • • Income details of both parents/guardians in iii and iv above should be provided
  • A stamped School fees letter/account statement from the student’s current school.
  • A copy of an unabridged student’s birth certificate is also required
    • If the parent listed on the child’s birth certificate is deceased, please provide supporting evidence such as a death certificate. 
    • Where the student is under the care of a guardian, the applicant is required to provide either a court order, a notarised parental consent affidavit, adoption order or foster care order to prove legal guardianship.

• Once the bursary has been granted, the applicant will be required to complete the full application process including passing of the academic assessment, provision of required data and documentation, as well as the payment of the non-refundable enrolment fee. Failing to complete any of these steps will result in the bursary consideration being terminated.
• Only new enrolling families are eligible; current Nova Pioneer families and staff of Nova Pioneer do not qualify.

Important note: Please note that the Nova Pioneer Foundation will not consider applications with incomplete submitted documents as outlined above.

Applicant data will be handled in compliance with applicable data protection laws and regulations. The Nova Pioneer Foundation is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of personal information provided by applicants and ensuring its use solely for the purpose of assessing the bursary application.

The Nova Pioneer Foundation retains the right to verify the accuracy and authenticity of information provided by applicants and their families. This verification process may include conducting background checks and requesting additional documentation or evidence to substantiate financial need. Applicants are obligated to fully cooperate with The Nova Pioneer Foundation during this verification process and fully consent to the foundation to verify their income through a credit reference bureau.

The final decision will be at the sole discretion of the Nova Foundation and the Nova Foundation reserves the right to not enter into discussion/negotiations in this regard. The decision of the Nova Pioneer Foundation will be final.

3. Bursary Coverage

The bursary programme covers between 25% to 50% of the annual tuition fees for successful candidates.

1. Bursary percentage offer will be determined based on the level of financial need demonstrated by the applicant, the Foundation’s available funds and availability of enrolment space – for bursary students at Nova Pioneer Schools.
2. The bursary will be applicable for the entire period that the student remains enrolled and in good standing at Nova Pioneer Schools. The family remains liable for the remaining percentage of fees that is not covered by the Foundation’s bursary and should always pay their fees in accordance with the Nova Pioneer School fees policy. The Foundation will terminate (or maintain the right to terminate) any bursary for students who have not paid in full their portion of school fees by the end of each academic year.
3. The bursary is applicable to tuition fees only and does not cover other expenses such as non-refundable enrolment fee, uniforms, textbooks, transportation, aftercare or extracurricular activities.
4. The bursary will still remain applicable should the student transition from one Nova Pioneer School campus to another at the same percentage of bursary support despite different chargeable school fees.
5. The bursary is however NOT transferable to other students, nor other schools, should the recipient student transition out of Nova Pioneer Schools.
6. The bursary cannot be applied to fee arrears should/after the should leave/s.
7. The bursary is NOT applicable to Nova Pioneer Schools and Nova Pioneer Foundation staff members.
8. No other discounts whatsoever will be applied to fees in addition to this bursary for example (but not limited to), sibling discounts, referral discounts and ad hoc promotional discount will not apply.

4. Application Process:

Applicants must complete and submit the Nova Pioneer Foundation Bursary Application Form, including all required supporting documents, by the specified deadline.

1. Incomplete or late applications may not be considered.
2. All information provided by the applicant will be treated with confidentiality and used solely for the purpose of assessing the bursary application.

5. Selection Process:

A review committee consisting of Nova Pioneer Foundation staff and/or appointed stakeholders will evaluate the bursary applications based on the eligibility criteria and available funding.

1. Final bursary recipients will be selected at the discretion of the review committee.
2. The decision of the review committee will be final and no appeals will be accommodated.

6. Notification and Acceptance:

Selected bursary recipients will be notified via the email addresses provided during application

1. Bursary recipients must acknowledge and accept the bursary offer within the specified timeframe provided to secure the bursary.
2. Failure to accept the offer within the specified timeframe will result in forfeiture of the bursary.

7. Documentation and Disbursement:

Bursary recipients may be required to provide additional documentation, such as proof of enrolment, for verification purposes.

1. Upon verification of the provided documentation, the bursary funds will be disbursed directly to Nova Pioneer Schools to be credited towards the recipient’s tuition fees.

8. Reporting and Evaluation:

1. Nova Pioneer Foundation will maintain records of the bursary programme, including the number of applicants, recipients, and funds disbursed.
2. The Nova Pioneer Foundation may retain and audit records related to the bursary programme, including application materials, financial documents, and communication records, for the purpose of verification, evaluation, and compliance.
3. The effectiveness of the bursary programme will be evaluated periodically, and adjustments may be made to the programme as needed by the Foundation.

9. Programme Renewal:

The bursary will be automatically renewed for subsequent years at the percentage rate offered and agreed upon.

Nova Pioneer School fees may increase or decrease from year to year and hence the amount payable by both the Foundation and the family will therefore increase/decrease by the same percentage.

10. Indemnification

Applicants and recipients of the bursary programme agree to indemnify The Nova Pioneer Foundation against any claims, liabilities, or damages arising from the administration of the programme, unless proven negligence or misconduct on the part of the Nova Pioneer Foundation.

11. Programme Termination:

The bursary may be terminated if:

1. Any form of fraudulent activities or misrepresentation by applicants or their families throughout the application or enrolment process shall result in immediate termination of the bursary. The Nova Pioneer Foundation reserves the right to pursue legal remedies to recover any misused funds.
2. The bursary recipient fails to meet the academic, behavioural, or other requirements set forth by Nova Pioneer Schools.
3. The recipient’s family’s financial circumstances change significantly, and they no longer demonstrate a genuine financial need.
   • Bursary recipients and their families have an obligation to promptly report any changes in their financial circumstances or personal information that may impact their eligibility for the bursary. Failure to provide accurate and up-to-date information may result in the termination of the bursary.
4. The recipient’s family fails to meet the agreed upon remaining percentage of fees that is not covered by the Foundation’s bursary.
5. The recipient’s family’s enrolment contract is terminated with Nova Pioneer Schools for any reasons as outlined in the Schools enrolment contract.
6. The recipient’s family failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the bursary programme, including the submission of required documentation or provision of accurate information, may lead to the termination of the bursary. The Nova Pioneer Foundation may exercise its right to take legal action to recover any misused funds.
7. The recipient’s family engages in fraudulent activities or misrepresentation during the application or enrolment process.

12. Programme Adjustments and Modification:

The Nova Pioneer Foundation reserves the right to make discretionary adjustments to the bursary programme as deemed necessary, including eligibility criteria, bursary coverage, application process, full termination of this programme or any other aspect of the programme. These adjustments may be based on factors such as the availability of funds, changes in financial circumstances, or external factors affecting the sustainability of the programme. Such adjustments will be implemented in a fair and transparent manner and notice of such modifications will be communicated to bursary recipients and posted on The Nova Pioneer Foundation’s official communication channels. Reasonable notice will be given to the bursary recipients for any adjustments or termination of the programme.

13. Annual Financial Audit:

The Nova Pioneer Foundation reserves the right to conduct an annual audit of the financial status of the guardians or families of bursary recipients to verify their continued eligibility for the bursary. The purpose of this audit is to ensure that the bursary is allocated to those who genuinely require financial assistance. Guardians or families selected for audit will be notified in advance and required to provide relevant financial documentation for review. Failure to cooperate or provide requested documentation may result in the termination of the bursary.

14. Cooperation with Audits and Reviews:

Bursary recipients and their families agree to fully cooperate with any audits, reviews, or investigations conducted by Nova Pioneer or the Nova Pioneer Foundation. This includes providing requested financial documentation, attending meetings or interviews as required, and responding to inquiries in a timely and honest manner.

15. Acknowledgement:

By participating in the Nova Pioneer Foundation Need-Based Bursary Programme, applicants and recipients acknowledge and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. They understand and accept the provisions outlined herein, including any additional provisions introduced by Nova Pioneer.

[Published on 12 April 2024 (Version 2)]

Read the Terms and Conditions for the Academic Scholarships here.