As South Africa's primary power producer, Eskom is committed to keeping the lights on in homes, schools, hospitals and businesses across the country. But Eskom is not only about power stations and pylons. At the heart of what Eskom does is the goal of adding real value to the lives of South Africans. One way of doing that is by contributing to improving the lives of young people in the South African community through the Eskom Development Foundation.
This Foundation has been the anchor funder of the SciMathUS University preparation programme, offered by the Stellenbosch University Centre for Pedagogy (SUNCEP), for the past five years.
SciMathUS affords students from educationally disadvantaged communities who have already passed Grade 12 but who have not qualified for admission to higher education a second chance to do so. Apart from preparing students to rewrite the NSC examination in Mathematics and Physical Sciences, the programme aims to equip them with skills to study successfully at tertiary institutions; to enhance their reasoning, interpersonal, time management and problem-solving skills, and to teach them to take responsibility for their own learning. The programme is fully funded by contributions from different companies, organisations and foundations like the Eskom Development Foundation.
Since 2013, ESKOM has supported 50 students each year from all over South Africa to have a second opportunity to gain access to higher education.
Having completed the programme successfully, most of the SciMathUS students enrolled at Stellenbosch University. The first students in the ESKOM-supported 2013 cohort who enrolled in three-year degree programmes graduated at the end of 2016. Four of the five graduates immediately enrolled for postgraduate studies. At the end of 2017, the first four-year degree programme students as well as the first three-year degree programme group of the 2014 intake will be graduating.
Selometsi Sehloho is a young woman in the process of registering as a professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). She says:
My journey towards becoming an engineer at Stellenbosch University started with SciMathUS. I applied for this programme in matric in case my application to study BSc Chemistry [at another university] was unsuccessful. As things turned out, I got accepted into SciMathUS. This was the beginning of my journey to qualify as a professional engineer.
SciMathUS bridged the knowledge gaps I had in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. We were also thoroughly prepared for student life in general. The highlight of SciMathUS for me was the amazing support that we received. As someone who was completely new at Stellenbosch (I am from the Free State), I appreciated that immensely.
My marks improved to an A and B and I was accepted for BEng (Chemical) at Stellenbosch University in 2006. The support from SciMathUS continued, which helped me a lot through my first year.
I successfully completed my studies in 2011 and was appointed on the Engineer in Training (EIT) programme at Eskom Lethabo Power Station in 2012.
After completing that training in 2013, I was appointed as an integration engineer at Medupi Power Station in 2014. Some of my key responsibilities involve managing engineering changes, managing engineering projects, and also providing technical advice and assistance.
I love and enjoy what I do. Most importantly, the fulfilment that comes with keeping the ‘lights burning’ and knowing that what you do has an impact in our society today is very rewarding.
I am constantly growing and learning new things. This all started with the opportunity and foundation given to me at SciMathUS. For that I am very thankful.
Accommodation is available to all SciMathUS students on campus, making it even more possible for students from all over South Africa to enrol for this programme.
Students with a NSC average of at least 60% (excluding Life Orientation) and 45% in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Accounting are currently eligible to apply. The Mathematics and Physical Sciences stream re-write the NSC examinations, whereas the Accounting students are formally part of the University’s extended degree programme in the Introduction in Accounting and Economic classes. They are thus taught and assessed by the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.
On average over the past 15 years, SciMathUS students’ performance in the core subjects offered increased with 15 percentage points. With these improved results students qualify to apply for selected and competitive higher education programmes such as medicine, engineering and accounting.
Eskom Development Foundation’s acting CEO, Cecil Ramonotsi, says the SciMathUS programme is an excellent tool that helps learners to be better prepared for their various careers in the fields of science, mathematics and technology, and it contributes to addressing some of the scarce skills in the country. “One of the biggest challenges faced by learners is a lack of access to quality educational support, something that hampers them realising their full potential. With this programme, we are beginning to see a sustainable solution in addressing such challenges,” says Ramonotsi.
SciMathUS follows an active learning approach, meaning a shift in emphasis from what educators teach to what students learn. This approach emphasises self-directed learning, because students take responsibility for their own learning, become actively involved in the learning process, and reflect upon and control their own learning activities. This approach challenges them to discover how they learn, to find and use appropriate learning resources and strategies, and to learn how to think critically.
While attending SciMathUS, the students are assisted to make informed career choices.