DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal government financial service provider Ithala SOC Limited has stepped in to assist Grade 12 pupils to prepare for their final examinations. With the final matric examinations just weeks away, the financial services provider through its Ithala Edu Platform is providing catch-up lessons. The platform provides curriculum content and pupil support to enable Grade 12 pupils make up for lost schooling and be ready for the final examinations
“The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on education has been devastating, with learners losing out on classroom time. Not being at school results in not only a loss of learning for pupils, but also mental distress, exposure to violence and abuse, missed meals at school, and a reduction in social skills development,”said Dr Thulani Vilakazi, CEO of Ithala SOC Limited in explaining the motive behind their intervention. The Edu Platform was launched in June 2019 and focused on subjects such as Zulu, English, accounting, mathematics, geography, physical science and applied computer technologies and according to the service provider when the matric results were released at the beginning of the year, many students reported that their grades had improved considerably because of the learning support.
The platform, it is further reported, has enabled more than 206 867 students from underprivileged backgrounds to benefit from programmes focusing on the Caps Curriculum, Soft Skills and Career Guidance. More than 2 000 pupils were interacting with tutors via WhatsApp enquiring about lessons.
“The hard reality is that South Africa cannot afford to lose another learner or another hour of learning time. At Ithala, we want to make as many students as possible aware that our programme is still up and running for the 2021 academic year. Ithala continues to help communities who lack the means to improve their lives, especially in these difficult times of the pandemic,” Dr Vilakazi, CEO continued.
One of the Edu Platform beneficiaries Ntombifikile Mfihle, a matriculant from Enaleni High School in Umlazi expressed her gratitude over the initiative. “The lockdown disrupted our schooling and affected many students who could not access classes online. I am very thankful that Ithala helped me through this challenging time of the pandemic,” said the learner.
Another Grade 12 learner Siyabonga Dlamini from Phakamani Secondary School in Benoni, Gauteng said he had enjoyed using the Ithala Edu Platform as it helped him concentrate and to better understand subjects. “The Ithala Edu platform also helped me study online, which was new for me.”
Ithala Education Platform Programme came in second place at the KZN Top Brand category of the 2021 KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Awards. The platform and lessons are accessible on https://www.godigitalsa.today/ithalaeduplatform.html#header3-x.
THE MERCURY