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A key programme for learners to do well in science and maths

More learners need the support of this programme, therefore Promestars are inviting the public to support the efforts in developing youth from schoolroom to boardroom.

A solid foundation in maths and science is required to access the careers that the Fourth Industrial Revolution requires, a tough task for many South African learners who face a host of challenges in accessing a decent education.

But a national maths and science revision programme is working to turn the tide, providing learners with the support they need to succeed in their matric exams and allowing them to obtain employment in sought-after industries.

EduCate, a public-private partnership between youth-development expert Primestars, the Department of Basic Education, and various corporate sponsors, launched its 2023 rollout on July 20, at the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel.

Theo Kgosinkwe opens the event with his hit music. Photo: Duduzile Khumalo
Theo Kgosinkwe opens the event with his hit music. Photo: Duduzile Khumalo

Organisations such as Standard Bank, Liberty, Omnia, Bidvest, Cell C, Sasria, AECI, SPAR, Women’s Development Business, Richfield, and others are committed to #BackingTheClassOf2023.

With the strapline Backing the Class of 2023, the innovative revision programme reaches learners through cinema screenings, rural school activations, and digital platforms.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Buti Manamela said, “As the government, we see this as a great opportunity for the private sector, communities, and government to work together. We have seen wonderful results come out of this programme, but what we really want to see is more schools and more learners involved, as well as more teachers trained in this type of intervention to improve our maths and science results.”

The cinema screenings are made up of 10 pre-recorded revision sessions: five in maths and five in science. These sessions cover the entire matric curriculum and are aimed at preparing South African youth from under-resourced areas for their final matric maths and science examinations.

Primestars MD Martin Sweet talks about the Educate programme. Photo: Duduzile Khumalo
Primestars MD Martin Sweet talks about the Educate programme. Photo: Duduzile Khumalo

The programme also includes dedicated maths and science textbooks, access to a teacher network, an extended rural footprint, and free WhatsApp support with digital content and online lessons, ensuring that learners from schools that cannot access the cinema tutorials are still able to benefit.

“EduCate uses cinemas as educational theatres of learning nationally. In so doing, our objective was to revolutionise the way we teach, making Stem subjects more accessible, engaging, and relevant to learners,” said Primestars MD Martin Sweet.

Sweet highlighted that in 2022, Educate will reach over 40 000 matric learners in high schools from under-resourced communities across South Africa. Critically, the Impact Report that was commissioned to track the results of the 2022 Educate cohort showed a minimum average improvement of 15% in participating students’ results.

Related article:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/331792/redhill-to-represent-sa-at-the-mathematics-competition-2/

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/326550/how-to-get-pre-schoolers-excited-about-maths/

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