A group of Protec Tongaat matric learners from economically disadvantaged areas in KwaZulu-Natal can boast an impressive 100% pass rate. This significant achievement was aided by a generous contribution from Altech Multimedia and other donors towards the extra tuition provided by educational service provider Protec to these learners.
An impressive 97% of the Protec Tongaat learners achieved a university pass rate, with the remaining 3% achieving diploma passes. As a combined group, the learners achieved 87 subject distinctions. Altech Multimedia has, for many years, promoted education, particularly in the fields of maths and science, as part of the company's corporate social investment (CSI) focus.
Altech Multimedia partnered with Protec, an NGO providing high-quality, affordable maths, science and technology education and career development programmes in previously disadvantaged educational districts, in an effort to increase the pool of learners studying maths and science, while investing in the local community. This partnership saw the opening of a resource and IT centre in Tongaat in 2007, sponsored by Altech Multimedia and run by Protec. The success of this facility led to another being built in KwaMashu in 2010, with construction on a third in Alexandra, Johannesburg scheduled for completion in 2015.
The seven top achieving matrics sponsored by Altech Multimedia earned between four and eight distinctions each, and six of the seven have been awarded bursaries to attend the university of their choice. What is particularly gratifying to note, especially given the shortage of maths and science skills in South Africa, is that all seven of these learners received distinctions for maths and physical science. Nozipho Mzobe, the top achiever of the group, opted to take eight subjects and attained distinctions in all eight, thereby securing herself a bursary to study actuarial science at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The results achieved by the Protec Tongaat learners are substantially better than both the provincial and national averages, and this is further evidence that the programme is working. Learners agree this is because they are provided with a safe learning environment, which is more conducive to studying than many of their schools or homes. They also have access to PCs to conduct research and use for typing up their projects. They can also make use of a small library of reference books to assist with sourcing information. Importantly, the learners have access to capable teachers in maths, science, English and life skills.
According to Bill Staegemann, HR Executive, Altech Multimedia: "The results speak for themselves, making it clear that our investment is having a positive impact. Altech Multimedia is proud to afford the learners that go through the Protec programme the opportunity to achieve these great results, which allow them to continue their studies at good tertiary institutions."
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