Johannesburg, 05 Nov 2019
Some 22 000 of SA's 27 000 schools are rated as dysfunctional, with the quality of maths and science rated the lowest of the 148 countries ranked.
The average class size ranges from 50 to 60 learners, with only 8% of the country's schools having a functional library. These factors all contribute to an already dysfunctional society.
One School at a Time is a non-profit organisation (NPO 074-191) and CSI initiative of Joe Public United that assists with the upliftment and advancement of high schools in Johannesburg. The desired objective is to create a highly functional, quality education system within the township schools targeted so that students have more of an opportunity to succeed post-matric for bursary applications, tertiary education, internships and employment possibilities.
One School at a Time’s primary objective is to increase a school's matric learner pass rate as well as improve averages with an increased number of distinctions.
The approach includes providing a Grade 12 support and extra lessons programme over the weekends and school holidays, providing a life skills programme and leadership workshops to develop skills, and providing regular motivational talks, all as part of a holistic approach to support and uplift the students.
Top-performing students are presented with academic achievement awards, and the teachers are recognised and rewarded for their contributions annually.
Funds raised through corporate donations and fundraisers are used to run the various programmes and projects within the schools, such as the supply of scientific calculators and workbooks, the revamping of school libraries, the initiation of chess clubs, the production of school newsletters, the provision of class and sports photographs, and sponsorships to those individuals and orphans who require help with school clothing, food, stationery, toiletries, and so on.
Puleng Technologies has been a proud sponsor of the One School at a Time initiative since 2010. The company's donations and sponsorship contribute to the Grade 12 new lesson programme for ICT studies, including CAT (Computer Applications Technology), and to supporting maths and physical science learners. In the past, Puleng has also sponsored an individual learner post-matric to attend FET College and recently, it donated laptops to school learners who will attend university next year.
The Puleng team are exceptionally proud of the achievements of One School at a Time. This long-term partnership and support for the programme ensures that lives can be changed, opportunities realised, and dreams fulfilled.
For more information regarding Puleng Technologies, click here
This programme is currently run in two partnered schools: Forte High School in Soweto and Itirele-Zenzele High School in Diepsloot.
Puleng Technologies' partnership with Forte High School goes back to 2008 as its first beneficiary school. It is a no-fee school serving the township community, which has many child-headed families. In a school with an actual capacity of 1 050 learners, the learners' roll for 2019 is well over 2 000, which means every contribution made goes towards the advancement of these learners. The pass rate of 52% back in 2007 steadily improved to 66% in 2010, and in 2014 the matrics managed to achieve a 94% pass rate. The current pass rate at the school is 88% with a 48% bachelors pass rate, and 60 distinctions.
The successful partnership with Itirele-Zenzele Comprehensive School in Diepsloot started in December 2012. The school has slowly managed to increase its pass rate from 62% to 85% in 2016. The current pass rate at the school is 87% with a 50% bachelors' pass rate. The school consistently achieves a pass rate of over 80% now, and for the first time in the history of the school, there are learners who achieve five and six distinctions in matric.
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