Firms committed to push sciences to forefront

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Great initiative: Primestars Martin Sweet at the launch of the EduC8 maths and science revision project.

Workplace Staff

Mobile telephone operator 8ta and BHP Billiton, along with several other organisations, will again be presenting EduC8, a maths and science revision campaign aimed at improving Grade 12 pupils’ final-year examination performance.

EduC8 is a partnership with 8ta, BHP Billiton, Primestars, the Department of Basic Education and Samsung.

It targets pupils from historically disadvantaged backgrounds across the country, and its objective is to address gaps in learning maths and science to increase the numbers who excel in the subjects.

Each revision session will be filmed from a single venue and simultaneously broadcast to a network of 15 digitised Ster-Kinekor theatres across the country.

The sessions will run every Sunday from July 22 to September 23.

They will be presented in an educational and yet entertaining manner, allowing pupils to interact with subject experts who will be at each cinema complex to assist.

This year EduC8 will reach three additional areas – Witbank, Richards Bay and Kuruman – as part of the project’s commitment to being as widely accessible as possible and give equal opportunities to all disadvantaged pupils.

To accommodate those who will not be able to attend the revision sessions because of their geographical locations, information will be available online.

SA has an acute shortage of professionals in maths and science-related fields such as actuarial science, engineering, medicine and accounting.

By helping pupils perform better in these subjects, the programme will make them eligible for admission at tertiary institutions where they can also study these key professions.

“We acknowledge that maths and science education is the foundation for many of the jobs needed to develop the infrastructure and therefore our economy’s growth,” says Amith Maharaj, senior managing executive of Telkom Mobile.

“These subjects are a critical component of getting ahead and 8ta is proud to be part of this student initiative which sees government and the private sector working closely towards a common goal.”

BHP Billiton chairman Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi says that to transform the nation, we need to start at the grassroots with skills development and education.

“We need to change the lives and experiences of the youth for the better. At BHP Billiton we believe in resourcing the future and part of resourcing the future lies in recognising that our people are our greatest resource.

“We are nothing without talented, skilled employees. We need to recognise that the future begins with the children of South Africa, and that that future begins now.”

Ntutule Tshenye, corporate citizenship executive at Samsung Africa, says the objectives of EduC8 are in line with what the company is trying to achieve through the Samsung Blue Education programme.

“Part of our commitment is towards developing young skilled leaders in Africa. One of our goals is to develop 10 000 electronic engineers across Africa by 2015, and a strong maths and science foundation is critical to succeed in the engineering field, as well as other related careers.”

The Sasol Inzalo Foundation and the national bursary organisation Studietrust will again co-operate with the EduC8 initiative of Primestars by reserving at least five bursaries for qualifying applicants who attended the programme.

Martin Sweet, the managing director of Primestars Marketing, adds: “As a consequence of the highly successful implementation of the EduC8 Initiative in 2011, we are excited and fully prepared for a bumper 2012 matric revision programme which will assist the youth of this country to excel in their individual performances.

“They will be setting themselves up to be fully prepared for university and subsequently, play a meaningful role in society in the years ahead.”