Engen Maths and Science Schools learners in KwaZulu-Natal scored top marks in 2016, scooping the top three programme positions nationally.
The Engen Maths and Science Schools (EMSS) are a national initiative that seeks to address key skills shortages in the engineering and technical fields by providing supplementary support to government efforts to promote Maths and Science education.
Learners from Grade 10 to 12 who show potential in maths and science, attend Saturday classes where they receive tuition from skilled teachers, as well supplementary educational material and academic support.
The majority of schools supported by EMSS are typically “no fee” schools in disadvantaged communities, which are often faced with an assortment of challenges.
Engen is proud to announce Unathi Bhodlingwe as the top learner in the EMSS Class of 2016. Unathi, a learner from Umlazi High School, attended classes at Mangosuthu University of Technology (Mantech) and scored an impressive 93% for mathematics, 92% for science and 87% for English, attaining an overall average of 91%. Unathi has enrolled to study accounting at the University of Cape Town this year.
Also hailing from KwaZulu-Natal and an attendee of the EMSS at Mantech is Sasasa Dlamini whose 89% average saw him finish second nationally, with distinctions in all his subjects. A learner at Westville Boys High School, Sasasa is headed for Harvard University in the United States to study engineering.
In joint third place with learners from Cape Town and East London is Kerisha Lutchmiah who studied at Fairvale Secondary School in South Durban. Kerisha achieved an average of 88% and has been accepted to study Actuarial Science at the University of Cape Town.
Overall, the EMSS class of 2016 achieved an impressive 94% pass rate, which is up 5% from last year’s average of 89%, with 70% of learners attaining a Bachelor pass. In 2016, 1 881 learners from Grades 10 to 12 participated in EMSS classes nationally, of which 586 wrote the Grade 12 National Senior Certificate exams. Engen’s Corporate Social Investment Manager, Mntu Nduvane says the company is delighted to have given many bright young learners the chance to pursue their dreams of working in maths and science related fields.
“Many learners in the programme had to overcome great socio-economic hardships to achieve their high results. We are proud of the Class of 2016 and wish them all the best in their tertiary studies and future careers,” says Nduvane.
Tasneem Sulaiman-Bray, Engen’s General Manager: Corporate Affairs says that EMSS continues to produce quality learners, many of whom pursue studies in the technical and financial fields before going on to enjoy successful careers in engineering, accounting and information technology, amongst others.
“Engen’s drive to help learners pursue stimulating careers not only benefits these young people’s lives, but the economy as a whole. We strongly believe that it is our responsibility and privilege to help young people with potential to overcome obstacles and thereby break cycles of poverty in the country,” says Sulaiman-Bray.
There are currently nine EMSS schools across South Africa with classrooms at Zakariya Park Secondary in Gauteng and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in the Western Cape. A further four schools are based in KwaZulu-Natal, with classrooms at the Mangosuthu University of Technology in Umlazi (Mantech), the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard Campus), Fairvale Secondary School and Ganges Secondary School in Merebank. In the Eastern Cape schools are based at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, the University of Fort Hare in East London and Cala High School, which is located in the heart of the rural Eastern Cape.