Ocular Technologies recognises role of private sector in alleviating SA's education crisis

South African contact centre solutions provider, Ocular Technologies, is seeing the positive difference that the private sector can make to the country's education system. The company has seen this transformation in particular through the long-term social initiative commitment it made to the Alexandra-based Realogile Secondary School five years ago.

In partnership with training company, Nothando Training and its Whole Brain Learning programme, Ocular Technologies has supported students in coming to grips with practical learning methods since 2011. As a result of the programme, the school witnessed an increase in the matric pass rate from 34.3% in 2010 to 65.4% in 2011.

"The sponsorship was initially undertaken by Ocular Technologies as a step to help improve the numeracy and literacy skills within local schools. It has since evolved to include social aspects - both personal and environmental - that affect both learners and teachers," says Pommie Lutchman, chief executive officer at Ocular Technologies.

The holistic approach to teaching and learning takes into account the complex challenges that each student may face at Realogile - ranging from poor diet to poverty and a host of socio-economic challenges. "These issues place students at an immediate disadvantage in our education system and addressing them is as important as tackling literacy and numeracy skills," points out Kamal Khusal, director and master trainer at Nothando Training.

The programme, which was first only introduced to Grade 12 learners, was implemented in both Grade 11 and 12 over the next two years. In 2014 and 2015 the focus shifted to Grade 11 learners. "The reason for this is that we noticed many students not passing and dropping out of school in Grade 11. This puts them at a further economic disadvantage with poor job prospects and resultant social effects such as living on the streets, turning to crime or doing menial work that perpetuates the cycle of poverty," explains Khusal.

The programme's emphasis on Grade 11 has resulted in 75.3% of the 2015 class progressing to Grade 12, an 11.5% increase from the previous year's pass rate. Last year also saw the school achieve a 64.7% matric pass rate.

"The Ukufunda method aims to increase students' self-efficacy, reinforcing the belief that they are capable of performing in a certain manner in order to achieve set goals. It not only allows them to develop improved thinking, problem solving and reasoning skills, read with speed and understanding and reduce study time, this method also provides an indefinite retention of information and, ultimately, improved grades and a better way of life," continues Khusal. "Self-efficacy is critical today; the acknowledgment to self that 'I am okay. I am more than I thought I was. That I have possibility, and that I recognise myself as amazing regardless of my station in life. Given the right tools that allow me to unleash the potential I didn't know I had'."

One of the key elements to this studying process is therefore the realisation of potential.

After five years of sponsoring Realogile study programme, Ocular Technologies will now closely follow the 2016 Grade 11 class. The class is currently split into the into nine Grade 11 classes with an average of 40 students, and learners' results will be tracked over the course of the year until the final-year exams.

"Ocular is more than just a benefactor to the students at Realogile, we aim to be instrumental in changing these students' lives over the long term," adds Lutchman.