The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Community Engagement Department has been tutoring six schools in Diepkloof.
The UJ team has a team led by Andy Balaram are from the university faculties of education, engineering, financial accounting and health science.
The team has been teaching mathematics, maths literacy, English, physics, chemistry, life sciences and accountancy. The team tutors Grade 10, 11 and 12 pupils at Fidelitas Secondary School on Saturdays.
Balaram said that next year they will be introducing computer studies and economics.
“As the tutors we don’t want to take the teachers jobs but we re-enforce what the teachers have taught for the week. The programme has significantly improved the pupils’ performance since its inception. The tutors motivate the pupils and talk to them about university and residence life,” he said.
Balaram said that the attendance level has been great.
“We motivate unemployed parents to get involved in schools that need their assistance. “Through the establishment of teams from the community, parents have been equipped with skills to improve their lives and tackle issues around poverty alleviation, gangsterism, substance abuse while maintaining themselves as good role models for their children and the youth in the area,” he said.
Balaram said that he urges parents to play an active role in the lives of their children.
“Parents must give their children all the love and moral support they need in order for them to live a fulfilled life,” he said.
