Since its inception three years ago, the Grade Nine Fuchs Lubricants Mathematics Skills Programme introduced at a number of schools in Tembisa has had a positive influence on beneficiaries’ lives, the schools it supports and the community at large.
The programme provides learners at under-resourced schools with an opportunity to enhance their maths skills as well as focusing on the provision of supplementary education to learners. The programme is in partnership with Star Schools’ mission to provide affordable, sustainable world-class education solutions.
“The programme is sponsored by Fuchs Lubricants as part of their corporate social investment portfolio or socio-economic development strategy. The Grade Nine mathematics programme is aimed at demystifying mathematics for learners and providing them with greater confidence at the end of Grade Nine, enabling them to make an informed decision as whether to choose mathematics as a subject when they enter the FET phase of school,” explained Esther Seabi, transformation manager at Fuchs Lubricants SA.
“The intention is for learners to acquire a greater skill set in math, and bridge the gap between Grade Nine and Grade 10, making the transition easier from the GET to FET phase.
“The goal is also to increase both the results and performance of learners and their respective schools.
“Our vision is to provide learners with the supplementary education to enable them to pass their examinations at levels that will equip them to fulfill their career aspiration,” she continued.
She went on to state that through the Star Schools Programme, learners are exposed to high-quality educational materials, enabling them to pass their examinations at levels which will allow them to confidently select mathematics in Grade 10.
A selected number of learners who are part of the programme are provided an opportunity to be selected onto the Peermont Community Benefit Trust (PCBT) Incubator Programme.
This provides supplementary support from Grade 10 to Grade 12 in mathematics, physical science and English.
The 2019 Grade Nine mathematics programme has 200 learners split between two centres, Ingqayizivele Secondary School (120) and Masiqhakaze Secondary School (80). The learners attend a mix of Saturday classes and intensive revision and pre-exam preparation sessions.
The selection criteria for learners to be part of the programme requires learners to achieve between 40 and 50 per cent in their school examinations. All learners are required to write a pre-project assessment which is used as the selection tool onto the programme and to identify knowledge gaps.
