These sentiments were shared by Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Rector at the official launch on the UP Mamelodi Campus.

She emphasised the importance of this partnership activity between the UP’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Faculty of Education, and the District Tshwane South of Gauteng Department of Education (GdoE). “These programmes also form part of our community engagement initiatives and seriously engage with our communities.”

Prof Johann Engelbrecht, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences with the portfolio of Teaching and Learning and Community Engagement explained that two programmes, organised by the abovementioned faculties, have been running for a number of years on the Mamelodi Campus. “The one programme is the Teacher Mentorship Programme where Mathematics and Science teachers from the community attended workshops at the UP campus in Mamelodi, sponsored by ABSA. There is also the After School Mathematics and Science Programme (sponsored by Stefanutti Stocks) which give all the top 10 grade 12 learners in Mathematics and Science from each of the secondary schools in Mamelodi the opportunity to attend weekly additional classes in Mathematics and Physical Science.”

Prof Engelbrecht added that “in the past this was done without formal involvement of the Gauteng Education Department, but now we reached a formal agreement with District Tshwane South of the GDoE to run these projects together.”

Ms Prudence Oliphant, Chief Education Specialist at the GDoE also welcomed the formalisation of these programmes and emphasised the former state president, Nelson Mandela’s words saying that “the moral fibre of a country can be measured on how it treats its learners.” She also urged the teachers and learners present to make use of the opportunity to join these programmes and improve their knowledge and expertise.

The launch was attended by more than 180 learners and about 70 Mathematics and Science teachers and headmasters from schools from the community. Other delegates that attended the event included representatives from trade unions as well as officials from the GDoE and Heads from various UP academic departments.