12. One of the outputs identified was awarding 4900 students with bursaries during the period 2010-2013, members enquired to what extent was race, gender, disability and rural entrants were being considered when awarding those bursaries. The DST assured the Committee of their commitment in ensuring that bursaries are awarded in accordance with the equitable distribution of the general population and that the Department and its entities were mindful of the need to address the issues concerning gender, race, impoverished backgrounds and persons with disability.