Through focused initiatives, partner schools achieved materially improved pass rates in maths, science and technology
Anglo American Platinum is pleased to share the outstanding improvement in 2018 matric results at the three technical schools which the Company has been actively supporting in collaboration with other key stakeholders. The three schools, Mogale-Wa-Bagale (near Twickenham mine and the town of Burgersfort), Phaladingoe (near Mogalakwena mine) and Thekganang (near Amandelbult mine) together achieved an average increase in pass rate from 83.3% in 2017 to 93.2% in 2018. This is up from an average of 65% at the end of 2014.
In 2015, Anglo American Platinum took a decision to partner with specific existing technical high schools close to its operations as part of the Company’s ‘adopt a school program’ to improve the quality of the education, and specifically, improve the percentages of maths, science and technology enrolments and pass rates. These subjects were identified as integral to increasing the skill base required to drive the future of the South African economy and ensure local employment at our operations.
The education upliftment intervention program is a product of ongoing consultation with key stakeholders, including the school principals, educators, learners, Department of Education, universities and mathematics and science associations. These consultations led to successful intervention strategies that have improved the schools’ infrastructure and facilities, programs to address educator and learner development requirements (such as the appointment of extra mathematics and physical science teachers, providing maths and physical science holiday camps and performance acceleration programs to Grade 12 learners), liaising with the Department of Education in respect of the academic state of the school and working with the schools’ governing bodies.
Through this collaborative effort, the three schools achieved pass rates which exceeded both the average in the province of Limpopo (69.5%) and South Africa (78.2%), with Mogale-Wa-Bagale, Phaladingoe and Thekganang receiving pass rates of 91.4%, 93.9% and 94.4% respectively. Mogale-Wa-Bagale achieved the highest overall improvement in pass rate, up from last year’s 55%. Together, the three schools achieved a pass rate of over 89% for physical science, whilst in mathematics the three schools achieved a pass rate of 63%, which far exceeds the averages of 31% and 35% recorded in 2014 and 2015 respectively, with Thekganang achieving an 83% pass rate for mathematics.
Lorato Mogaki, Executive Head of Human Resources of Anglo American Platinum said: “Congratulations to the matriculants of 2018, the schools, teachers, parents and the communities who helped them achieve these results. We are especially delighted for those whose hard work was rewarded with distinction. We urge all the students who passed to continue pursuing success.
“We are proud to have partnered with these schools and to be seeing such significant and gratifying results. Education is a critical pillar to bringing real empowerment and transformation to our communities. Anglo American Platinum is committed to meeting the socio-economic development goals of our communities, and this initiative is a great example of an effective partnership that has delivered clear results. We will continue to build on the investments we have made in education and skills development in the communities surrounding our operations.”