Victor Mecoamere

Victor Mecoamere

Transnet, the driving force behind the popular Massed Choir Festival and the National Schools Essay Competition on Albinism, is now boosting the national strategy for mathematics, science, engineering and technology.

It is to launch a school-based pupil, teacher and school academic and infrastructure improvement and development programme that has been dubbed the Sharp Minds - Get Ahead in Life Project.

The Sharp Minds - Get Ahead in Life Project is one of many private sector-led projects helping the national and provincial education departments' national strategy on mathematics, science, engineering and technology education and training in the general and further education and training bands.

Transnet Foundation portfolio manager Vivian Moila said this week that Sharp Minds - Get Ahead in Life Project, to be launched in Johannesburg on May 15, is three- phased. It focuses on learners, educators and infra-structure to create a holistic programme targeting 400 Grade 11 pupils and 160 teachers at Sekhukhune (Limpopo), Maluti A Phofung (Free State),

Mtubatuba (KZN), and Moretele (North West).

Moila said pupils would be assisted in these key learning areas. They would also be encouraged in subjects that will help alleviate scarce skills, thus enhancing the country's global competitiveness.

"The Sharp Minds Get Ahead In Life Project is also aimed at developing sound curriculum knowledge among teachers to improve teaching and learning in the fields of maths, science, engineering and technology," Moila said.

This will be done through subject acceleration tutorials in maths, science and English, study skills and computer literacy.