Mining is a major engine of South Africa’s economy, producing exports and generating employment for many South Africans. It is, however, highly dependent on skilled labour, engineers and technicians, who are drawn from the limited pool of graduates emerging from a weak South African schooling system. Many public-private partnerships have been established in South Africa to address this gap, and every year numerous corporations invest billions of rands in education interventions, surpassing even the aid provided by traditional bilateral and multilateral donors to the sector.

In 2013 a SAIIA/Wits research team conducted an in-depth study on the delivery, effectiveness and impact of the Anglo American Platinum and other mining companies’ education programmes in the Limpopo and North West provinces to improve learning outcomes in public schools, particularly in the critical subjects of maths and science. The study utilised a rich pool of data and combined qualitative, econometric, meta-analytical and quasi-experimental methods of evaluation, while engaging several public institutions and local stakeholders in the process.

The research revealed some surprising findings with regard to the effects that mines have on learning results in surrounding schools and affected communities. The study re-affirms many current theories and raises new questions with regard to the role of educators, the impact of interventions, socio-economic factors, and other aspects affecting the school system of South Africa. It also puts into question some of the common practices in the design and evaluation of CSI and development programmes.

The Wits School of Governance, the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Anglo American Platinum and Umalusi (Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education) are jointly organising a conference to share some of the ground-breaking results with other mining and education stakeholders, to reflect on the findings of the recent study. The event will bring together leaders from government, private sector, academia and civil society to discuss the implications on policy, programming, investments, structural reforms and future partnerships required to address the crucial education challenges in South Africa in support of the National Development Plan.

Participants: Around 250 people, including leaders and representatives from the South African government, private sector, civil society and academia from the education, evaluation, mining and CSI sectors.