Painos Chitanga – High School Tutorial Initiative – University of Pretoria

Painos Chitanga, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Pretoria (UP) works in conjunction with fellow Scholars at UP to provide academic support through the High School Tutorial Initiative. They provide mentorship, one-on-one tutoring, and tutorials for disadvantaged high school students. This initiative aims to increase the chances of students obtaining university admission at the top tertiary institutions in South Africa and beyond, by improving their academic marks. To date, there are nearly 40 students on the High School Tutorial Initiative, and though it has been challenging with COVID-19, with the use of technology (WhatsApp & Zoom) they have been able to continually teach the high school students. Painos, the pioneer of this initiative, stated, ”After the preliminary exam in July 2020, most of our students appreciated the help they received from us and want us to continue until they write their final examination. Our team is dedicated to supporting these students.”