Page 11 - Adopt-a-School Foundation 2016-2017 Annual Report

psychosocial support services for children as recipients for the Cyril Ramaphosa We look forward to the year ahead, to new
and their families and will establish its first Education Trust bursary programme, joining collaborations, new ventures, more changed
Safe Park – a protected space for women a growing number of Adopt-a-School schools and more partners in our journey
and children offering critical educational and bursary supported students and successful to bring quality education to all corners of
therapeutic services. graduates. South Africa.

Adopt-a-School is receiving a rising number We have been encouraged by a number of Steven Lebere
of requests to manage the construction of our schools that have significantly increased
community projects such as ECD centres, their pass rates, some moving from the
clinics and community centres. As a result, Adopt-a-School Foundation category of an
it has launched a new department which underperforming school to a functional or
addresses once off infrastructure projects exceptional school.
outside of the Whole School Development Executive Director
scope. Community involvement is at the The achievements reported on in this Annual Adopt-a-School Foundation
heart of Whole School Development and the Report are a result of a unified approach.
Foundation’s approach to building projects We are proud of our partnerships; from
has always prioritised job creation and skills our Corporate Social Investment partners
development in the school community, to PBOs and NPOs in civil society, to the
without compromising on quality. In 15 individuals and organisations that offer
years, 7902 temporary job opportunities us pro-bono services, strategic guidance
have been created. This has contributed to and physical resources. Together we have
the empowerment of communities that take achieved so much more than we could have
pride in the maintenance and development ever achieved alone.
of their school and surrounding
environment. The Department of Basic Education, from
district to national departments, remains
Matric performance remains a critical driver an integral partner in the success of our
and success indicator on which we are operations. We also continue to work with
measured. Adopt-a-School Foundation’s the Departments of Home Affairs, Health,
average matric pass rate in our adopted Social Development and more recently, the
schools has increased from 77% in 2015 Department of Women and Children.
to 78% in 2016 and stands at 82% without
the inclusion of progressed learners. The We are privileged to report many inspiring
national pass rate stands at 75.5 %, or success stories from the past financial year.
76.2% if progressed learners are excluded. We are equally privileged to have learnt a
The steady improvement in the quality number of valuable lessons, enabling us
of these results is of most significance to to continue to improve our operations. I
Adopt-a-School: 60.5% of our matriculants am grateful to our staff and Board for their
qualified for a bachelor or diploma pass, an unwavering commitment to Adopt-a-School
increase of 2.5% from 2015. In 2016, many of Foundation. It is their compassion, humility
these learners received bursaries to further and ambition that propel us to new heights
their studies. Four learners were selected each year.

9