Samsung Electronics Africa has extended its commitment to local education initiatives, including expanding a nationwide matric mathematics and science revision campaign.
The "eduCate" programme will run for 10 weeks and assist matriculants from disadvantaged backgrounds with revision tutoring at movie cinemas throughout the country, in the run-up to their examinations. Sessions will be facilitated by subject matter specialists, says Samsung, and will be broadcast simultaneously to a network of 14 digitised cinemas across all nine provinces.
According to Samsung, more than 156 000 seats have been occupied by grade 12 learners wishing to improve their chances of tertiary study since it initiated the project in 2011.
Kea Modimoeng, public affairs and corporate citizenship manager for Samsung Electronics Africa, says SA's skills shortages are widely acknowledged as a key factor hindering the achievement of the country's targeted economic growth. "The reasons for this skills shortage are numerous, complex and often disputed. But what is no longer in dispute is that an increased focus on maths and science studies is to the country's advantage."
Solar spending
The company notes it will also continue investing in its Solar-Powered Internet Schools (SPIS) locally, with a seventh centre set to open at Mahlenga Secondary School in the North West province later this month.
The SPIS are independent classrooms that aim to increase accessibility to education and connectivity in Africa's remote areas, and are built in a 12m-long repurposed shipping container, making them easily transportable via trucks.
"Other initiatives include the Samsung-designed e-Learning Centres, which aim to boost educators' skills and knowledge, and the thriving Samsung Engineering Academy, which placed 100% of its learners into skilled positions," says the company in a statement.
Modimoeng adds that Samsung's core business relies heavily on being able to tap into engineering and technological skills, which is why it hopes to play a part in improving maths and science performance in local schools.
He says the recent World Economic Forum report ranking SA's quality of mathematics and science education as the worst among 148 countries should be a "wake-up call". "It is imperative for the corporate sector to step up and work with government to accelerate the process of creating a skilled nation and become partners in learning."
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