Page 43 - 25 Reasons

LEARNER-FOCUSED
TARGETS INCLUDE:

90%
90%

of learners aged five achieving the
minimum requirements for school readiness
90%
90%
of Grade 3 learners passing with at least
50% in numeracy & literacy
75%
75%

of Grade 6 learners passing with 50% in
maths & English (first additional language)
90%
90%

matriculation pass rate, with a
50% bachelor degree pass
65%
65%
of Grade 12 learners passing with Basic education minister Angie Motshekga and former deputy chair of Anglo American South
at least 50% in maths Africa, Norman Mbazima, demonstrate their commitment to improving education outcomes
bigger impact purely by supporting what
government is trying to do and helping it to WHEN HELP ARRIVES
implement its plans that much better.”
The bottom line for Mbazima is the outcomes.
“We are not educators, so we’ve had to work with t’s a long dusty road to Mashie Primary are mobile and temporary, and accommodate
partners. There are many excellent partners out School – more than two hours’ drive from 20 pupils. The toilet ratio is one to 35, “meaning
there trying to improve the educational landscape IPolokwane in Limpopo, the closest city to the one toilet seat serves 35 pupils”, Serumula says.
in South Africa. school. Only once you’ve passed through places “Our feeder school has 107 pupils in Grade 7.
“I’m hoping that a programme such as the one you’ve never heard of, such as Dendron and We are very worried about overcrowding next
we’ve started will be a good place for the very best Vivo, the tar ends and, eventually, the school year. We also have a Grade 8 classroom that is
service providers to come on board and make a comes into sight. ‘mobile’. The heat is unbearable when it gets hot
difference in a structured way.” “We are in the bush and there is no sign that and the opposite happens when it gets cold.”
Mbazima is satisfied that the project is well there is a school here,” says the school’s principal, The school was approached by Anglo
thought through. Freddie Maphaha. American last year and things are already
“If we can get that ecosystem to work together Mashie Primary is just one school that is starting to look up.
with us, every rand that we put into this is going to benefiting from the Anglo American South “So far, Anglo American has appointed a
have the best effect that it can possibly have. Africa education programme. From Mashie, the physical science teacher who comes in twice a
“The basic education system was not producing learners graduate to Moshokoa Secondary week to assist pupils in grades 11 and 12.
the best results. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have a School, which is 10km away in Slaaphoek. During the school break, the teacher will work
great deal of admiration for the department of basic Both schools are benefiting from the initiative, with the pupils in matric for five days to prepare
education and what it is doing, where it has come and Anglo American has already provided them for exams,” he says.
from and how it is trying to improve. training to the school’s leadership on managing Anglo American has also provided the school
“Having spent lots of time with the minister the curriculum to ensure better results. with a science laboratory and mentoring.
[Angie Motshekga], I have a great deal of admiration Mashie Primary has nine teachers and 275 The school boasted a 96.8% matric pass rate
for her enthusiasm and what she is trying to do to pupils from Grade R to Grade 7, but they have last year, an improvement from the 70.4%
get there. But she and I agree – we are not there been battling to beat the odds. achieved in 2017. But Serumula isn’t resting on
yet. And I think some of the things that we were “The Grade R pupils do not have a teacher, so his laurels.
doing were not resulting in the largest number of a volunteer helps. We often ask parents to “We need to focus on the quality of results as
people, especially the poorest children around our contribute R5 towards the volunteer’s R1 375 opposed to the quantity,” he says.
operations, getting a better educational outcome. monthly salary. This is already asking for a lot Selaelo Ralefeta, a circuit manager in the
“If we could refocus everything towards achieving as most of the parents are unemployed,” department of basic education, says this is not
that ... that would be a really neat thing to do. And Maphaha says. the first time that Anglo American has
that is what this programme is designed to do.” The school’s current pass rate is between 75% contributed towards improving communities.
The programme has set ambitious targets, so it and 80%, and Maphaha is positive that the “When I was appointed in 2008, Anglo
can be objectively measured over time to ensure it’s initiative will improve the school’s performance. American provided early childhood development
getting there. And he’s not the only one. Andries Serumula, centres with learning and teaching material. It
“We have very clear targets that we’d like to the principal of Alldays Secondary School, also also provided pupils with study guides, and
achieve with the schools and the kids we will be faces huge obstacles. sent them to camps where they were taught
working with over the next five years. And that’s the Located about 36km from the De Beers mine physics, mathematics, life sciences and English,”
difference,” Mbazima says. in Alldays village, it has 402 pupils. Classrooms Ralefeta says.
ANGLO AMERICAN 25 REASONS TO BELIEVE 43