Thungela is not just focused on mining, they are also very serious about the future of the younger generation.

The ink on their education initiative is not even dry yet, and now they are also embarking on strengthening psycho-social support in Mpumalanga schools.

This mining giant and the University of Pretoria’s Educational Psychology Department signed a memorandum of agreement to deploy master’s students to various schools, offering essential psychosocial support to both educators and learners in the foundation and intermediate phases.

Mpumi Sithole, executive head of corporate affairs at Thungela, said, “We recognise that educational performance is not only shaped by access to resources but also by the psychological and emotional well-being of both learners and educators. Working with the University of Pretoria, we are equipping schools with the professional support needed to respond to the complex realities facing learners and educators.”

The mutually beneficial partnership will offer the master’s students hands-on experience as they conduct learner assessments and identify the necessary remedial actions and interventions, under the supervision of the district educational psychologists.

This will help reduce the workload of the district’s educational psychologists, while the master’s students gain valuable practical work experience to help them complete the practical components of their academic training.

Through this agreement, the University of Pretoria is supporting the implementation of the Department of Basic Education’s screening, identification, assessment, and support (SIAS) policy.

Professor Ruth Mampane from the University of Pretoria said, “This community engagement partnership with Thungela exemplifies a strategic alliance that amplifies our capacity to make a meaningful difference beyond academic boundaries. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, this collaboration not only empowers our students with invaluable real-world experience but also addresses critical community needs, particularly in Mpumalanga.”

Thungela will fund and manage the programme, overseeing its implementation with a dedicated project structure.

To uphold governance and accountability, a management committee has been set up to ensure consistent engagement with stakeholders across various levels of the Mpumalanga Department of Education, emphasising ethical principles throughout the partnership.

In 2024, Thungela launched the education initiative, a five-year programme aiming to improve the quality of education for Grade R to Grade Four learners in 45 no-fee schools in Nkangala and Gert Sibande districts.

With this programme, school readiness, literacy, and numeracy outcomes for learners are improved.

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