According to the Provincial Education MEC, Tate Makgoe, the partnership come at a time when the province is still grappling with learners’ performance in these subjects. Makgoe says teachers’ skills training has also been a challenge. Makgoe says the signed agreement with the power utility will greatly benefit the province, coupled with the province’s plans to remain the top matric pass rate achievers. Makgoe adds that they are hopeful the partnership will help in dealing with the socio-economic challenges faced in the country.

The Eskom Development Foundation’s acting CEO, Cecil Ramonotsi, says the signed three-year-long contract seeks to improve the status quo of schools. He says they will also be awarding bursaries to learners who excel in their matric year.

Ramonotsi says the partnership is also to ensure that South African learners compete at an international level and are able to access job opportunities.

He says Mathematics and Science will afford future generations opportunities and will enable them to create employment. He says it is important to equip learners with skills so that they will be able to grow the country’s economy.

“In about five years to come we want to see more learners in this province taking maths and science subjects because of the advantages of the subjects for their own personal development and their own participation in the economy,” said Ramonotsi.

He says the current Mathematics competitions in the province are in an effort to address the various challenges faced by learners and teachers at impoverished schools. He says there are also plans underway to reward districts that will win the competitions in order to increase participation.

Makgoe added that they want to make Mathematics the learners’ first choice subject.

OFM News