Education Grant
If you would like to further your education, but are unable to raise the funds to do so, then you should consider applying for a government education grant. This is because government money is usually available for those who qualify, and have a reasonable educational record of accomplishment. All you need to do to get your hands on these funds is to qualify in principle, and to understand the application process to follow to get your school or college education paid for.
Academic Potential
It does not make sense to provide an educational grant to a student who will, or cannot study, which is why the government usually looks for signs of academic potential. Assessors often look at previous school results. If you have always been an unsuccessful student, then you should perhaps fix that first, before you apply for government money.
Exceptions may however be made where compelling reasons exist for this. This means that if your past academic record has been adversely affected by cognitive or physical disability, or perhaps dysfunctional factors in your social or family background, then you should still consider applying. Such proposals need to be carefully worded and motivated, and you should ask someone who knows you well enough, to lend you a helping hand.
The “Why Me” Question
It has been correctly said that a salesperson cannot sell a product that they do not believe in. Equally so, you cannot motivate yourself for an education grant unless you truly believe that you qualify for it. The following are the big questions that you need to answer before you even begin to look for a grant:
- What are your goals in life, and why do you need education to achieve these?
- What specific qualification(s) do you need for this career?
- What especially makes you interested in that particular course of study?
- What are you going to do, to make sure that your studies will be successful?
- How do you intend to pay society back for your education grant?
The Core of a Good Education Grant Application
Let us assume that you are applying for a grant in order to be educated as a School Teacher. If this is the case, then the bones of your covering letter could perhaps be like this:
I have always wanted to be a School Teacher because I would like to repay the efforts that my teachers have put into my own development in the past. Unfortunately, I come from a poor inner-city background and my Mother cannot afford the college fees. There is also nobody else to whom I could turn for help. If successful, I undertake to apply myself to my studies, and to always put my study curriculum ahead of other interests. I already have a computer and a desk at home where I can study in the evenings. I have decided to specialise in Geography as my main teaching subject. This is because I have always wanted to travel and I believe that shared understanding is a pathway to peace. After I have qualified as a teacher, I promise you that I will continue in my chosen vocation, for as long as I possibly can.
Hardly rocket science, is it? But, please do make sure that you mean what you say sincerely too. The only thing worse than wasting grant money, is frittering away the precious years of your younger life.
Other Hints and Tips
Officials who review applications for Education Grants are experts on the subject because they to this for a living. First impressions always count, and the following are important in this regard:
- Avoid irritating the assessor (who you will probably never meet) by causing confusion or irritation.
- Make sure that everything flows through smoothly from your covering letter, and at all costs avoid inconsistencies.
- Complete every page on every form clearly and succinctly. Never say on “Form B”, for example that the information is already written down on “Form A”. It is always a good idea to do a draft run on a copy of the form. That way you can make sure that everything fits in neatly, and that there are no untidy corrections.
- Finally, provide all the other supporting information listed on the form. If you are attaching copies, ask your religious leader or teacher to confirm that these are genuine.
How To Take Action Today
There is no earthly reason why you should not apply for an Education Grant if you qualify for it, because you deserve it, and because you will repay it through your normal taxes in your later life. Elsewhere on this web site you will find information on the different government departments that provide Education Grants that are available to you.
