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Sasol Saturday School helps young Scientists succeed

The Sasol Saturday School @ Sci- Bono, running since 2006, has shown excellent results with participating schools reporting an average pass rate increase of 21% and 17% in Grade 10 and 11 maths and science results respectively. The secret to its success is a non-traditional and fully resourced approach to teaching these subjects, as well as the provision of further support in Career Education and Counseling and Computer Literacy. Sasol and SciBono recently celebrated the ongoing progress and success of the initiative at the Discovery Centre in Newtown Johannesburg.

Participating learners receive special tuition and experience science-related excursions through the successful Saturday School Programme, which aims to inspire an interest in these subjects and address poor matric results, both key priorities of Sasol social responsibility activities in education.

“The learners receive tutoring using the latest technology and experience a variety of projects and excursions to supplement the more traditional methods of teaching and trigger practical understanding and interest,” says David Kramer, Acting CEO of the Discovery Centre. “This year, for example, nineteen learners took part in a five-day rocketry course where they successfully built and launched their own rockets.” Learner enthusiasm is evident, classes continued even during the public service strike and learners received tuition they were unable to get from schools.

A total of 118 top performing learners in Grade 10 and 11, selected from 13 underperforming and poorly resourced schools in Soweto, Orange Farm and Lenasia, are currently taking part in the programme which started in February and continues on 30 Saturdays throughout the year. Each learner participates in 90 Saturday school sessions over three years between Grade 10 and Grade 12, supplemented by additional excursions and competitions. Educators are supported and parents are encouraged to experience the resources the SciBono Discovery Centre has to offer.

Teachers are noticing the difference, “I think that the Sasol Saturday School is making the learners more disciplined. It really inspires them to put in the extra effort to get good marks,” says Principal Stephen Manicus of Riverlea High School.

“The South African economy is growing. Communities with science and technology skills are able to participate in and benefit from this growth,” says Pamilla Mudhray, Head of Corporate Social Investment at Sasol. “However, we are concerned that as a nation our schools performance in mathematics and science is very poor. In particular the poor performance of learners from disadvantaged communities prevents them from pursuing careers in science and technology. Sasol, as a partner in JIPSA and ASGISA, is very committed to improving science and mathematics education sustainably. Education is a key focus of our corporate social responsibility as interventions and support from the private sector can make a major difference.”

Limited resources, language of tuition and lack of teacher qualifications are some of the reasons cited for South Africa’s low enrollment and pass rates. According to a report released by the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE), in 2003 less than 50% of black learners passed maths and science on higher grade. Last year a mere 10% of the Senior Certificate candidates enrolled for these subjects.

Mudhray says that Science Centres are proven to be an effective way to achieve leap learning and trigger interest in science, maths and Technology. “The Sasol Saturday School gives learners access to the resources that would otherwise have been out of reach.”

“Our goal is to build a better platform for higher education to get the best possible matric results and to expose them to science and technology careers,” says Mudhray. “We need to close the gap between school, higher education and the world of work, and believe the Sasol Saturday School can make a major contribution to this.”

More information:

  www.sasol.com 

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