Mthetho Ndoni

Mthetho Ndoni

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University has selected 100 pupils - who might become mathematics and science teachers - for special tuition.

And, to help them on their way, the incubator school has received R1million from Volkswagen South Africa's Community Trust.

The initiative, which was launched at the university last week, will expose 40 physical science and 60 mathematics grade 12 pupils to lectures designed to prepare them for studying towards a bachelor of education degree at the university next year.

The head of the mathematics and applied mathematics department at the university, Hennie Boshoff, said the school would fill knowledge gaps and optimise the chances of a successful transition from matric to studies at tertiary level.

VWSA's corporate affairs manager, Weza Moss, said the need for maths and science teachers was an issue that needed immediate attention.

He said the R1million funding would be phased in over three years.

The pupils would attend the incubator school on Saturdays to prepare for their tertiary education at the university.