PROTEC celebrated another win for Maths and Science education and took a step closer to improving South Africa’s global competitiveness in today’s technologically driven world. PROTEC, in partnership with Sanlam, launched their learner excellence and teacher development programme in the Pinetown district, Kwa Zulu Natal today 22 July 2015.
Acclaimed storyteller and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Ambassador Dr Gcina Mhlophe, joined the celebrations sharing a little of her storytelling magic with the audience. With her belief in the power of narrative and personal storytelling, Dr Mhlophe has joined forces with PROTEC to champion the STEM curriculum.
“If we don’t support our learners in these subjects, who will be our engineers that will build the roads that take us into the future?” She asks.
PROTEC will support five schools in the Pinetown District, in a supplementary STEM enrichment programme that holistically supports both learners with potential in these subjects and their teachers. With 33 years of experience behind them and a proven methodology, PROTEC have made giant strides forward in developing learners ready to take on careers in science, technology, English and mathematics.
Unique in their approach, PROTEC have selected 50 Grade 10 learners from the five under privileged schools in the district who will attend Saturday schools and vacation programmes, as well as receive long-term mentorship, skills training and exposure to the world of work. PROTEC offers support from high school, through university and into the work place. The schools benefiting from the Pinetown intervention are Dr JL Dube Secondary School, Isibonelo Secondary School, JG Zuma Secondary School, Northmead Secondary School and Zakhe Secondary School.
“We are extremely pleased to once again partner with the Sanlam Foundation and welcome the opportunity to support their philosophy to make a difference while building sustainability.
It is only through such partnerships and interventions that we are able to improve the lives of so many leaners and help them to succeed in their chosen careers” said Balan Moodley, CEO and GM: Finance, HR and Branch Relations of PROTEC.
In conjunction with the learner excellence programme, PROTEC will also offer the five participating schools a teacher support and development programme, that includes auxiliary learning materials and mobile science kits, ensuring that the schools’ overall STEM education is improved.
PROTEC’s annual results speak to its success; in 2014 all but one of PROTEC’s branches achieved a 100% pass rate. The PROTEC pass rate has consistently been higher than the National pass rate both at Matric and Bachelors level, with PROTEC learners achieving a 99.7% pass rate compared to the average 75.8% in 2014. PROTEC Bachelors pass rate was 75.8% compared to the national average of 28.3%.
NOTES:
PROTEC was established in 1982 by the South African Institute of Civil Engineers, in response to the country’s growing need for engineers in all fields. From its early beginnings in Soweto, PROTEC has successfully established a national programme that supports learners in disadvantaged areas.
PROTEC has worked with corporates and governmental organisations to establish sustainable supplementary school-to-world education solutions in over 46 disadvantaged communities across the country. As leaders in the field PROTEC have been at the forefront in the design and implementation of the Technology Curriculum and continue to support the Department of Education in the delivery of the CAPS Methodology.
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Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of PROTEC – www.protec.org.za
