At the time that the programme was implemented, pupils were generally demotivated due to a lack of maths and science teachers in the community
AN EDUCATION partnership, which kicked off in 2015, aimed specifically at stimulating a desire amongst pupils to study STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) subjects is bearing fruit.
Pupils were recently awarded medals and certificates for 100% attendance and performance, with cash prizes for the top three pupils, at their end-of-year awards ceremony.
Funded by Boshof Solar Power, the Maths and Science Leadership Academy from Kimberley, along with local teachers, facilitates extra maths and science lessons to the pupils at Boshof Combined School, Boshof Intermediate School and Aramela Combined School every Thursday afternoon.
“The mathematics curriculum is packed. The Thursday classes give pupils the opportunity to practise the work done in class, and because we can focus on higher level questions the pupils become more confident and their marks improve,” said Nicolene Botha, a teacher at the academy, who believes that the pupils have a better chance to succeed.
At the time that the programme was implemented, pupils were generally demotivated due to a lack of maths and science teachers in the community. The programme now supports the three schools.
With an estimated 80% of future jobs requiring young people to have some sort of STEM education, it is critical and imperative that pupils get support, as early on as possible.
“One of the issues identified was that the pupils weren’t selecting maths and science as subjects for matric because they didn’t have the proper foundation from earlier grades, hence the accelerator approach of providing extra lessons, helping pupils to catch up and not fall behind,” explained Zuki Ndlela, economic development officer of Boshof Solar Power.
