The BMW SA Excellence Project in Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST) has released the results for its 2010 matric students, which beat the national average for physical science and maths achieved by the country's matriculants last year.
The project encourages learners to pursue careers in the field of science and technology, to address the skills gap that exists in the country in this critical field, says the company.
The 2010 matric students who were involved in the MST project achieved a combined average in physical science that exceeded the national average by 23.3%, while the combined average for mathematics saw the BMW schools exceed the national average by 21.25%.
Distinctions were achieved by 32 participating students.
Mobile labs
BMW's MST initiative supports 10 under-privileged high schools in Midrand, Rosslyn, Soweto, and the Western Cape. A further 20 primary schools also form part of the programme.
Using mobile laboratories procured with BMW funding, teachers are able to teach science and maths in both a theoretical and practical manner.
“The strategy on MST education has been developed in order to maintain a learning culture and momentum throughout the learners' school career. The programme thus adopts a high school with two feeder primary schools,” says BMW.
The 2010 matriculants will have the opportunity to apply for one of 10 bursaries being offered for the first time by BMW SA, within a mathematics or science field. Once graduated, the bursars will be offered a position within BMW's Graduate Trainee Programme.
Education PPP?
“The BMW MST Excellence Project is based on research conducted by the government of Japan, researchers from Columbia University, in New York, as well as educators and educational officials in SA.
“The aim of the initial research was to develop an intervention that would uniquely address the needs of disadvantaged schools in SA and contribute to a stronger mathematics, science and technology education delivery system,” says the company.
It adds that computer-based educational tools have been made available to the project, developed with support from the National Science Foundation in the US.
Guy Kilfoil, GM of group communications and public affairs at BMW SA, says BMW has been in discussion with the National Department of Education to look at synergies for the expansion of the programme.
Fewer matriculants passed mathematics during the 2010 National Senior Certificate Examinations, potentially meaning that fewer ICT professionals will enter the job market, which could harm SA's economy.
Last year's class achieved an overall pass rate of 67.8%, an improvement on the 60.6% who passed in 2009, and the highest rate in several years.
However, basic education minister Angie Motshekga was dismayed with the number of matriculants who passed mathematics.
“We are certainly not happy with the current number of passes in mathematics, and have planned to continue investing significant effort and resources in ensuring the pass rate, as well as quality of mathematics, is significantly improved this year.”
Of the 537 543 matriculants who sat for the final examinations, a total of 124 749 passed mathematics - a decline from the 133 505 who passed a year ago. The number of students who passed physical science improved to 98 260, from 81 356 in 2009. Both subjects are key building blocks for entry into the ICT sector.
Only 47.8% of the 205 364 students who wrote science passed, while 47.4% of the 263 034 students who sat for mathematics were successful. Matriculants studying mathematics and physical science also recorded the lowest pass rates out of all the possible subjects for the 2010 year.
Results are yet to be released for the government's flagship maths and science schools, the Dinaledi schools.
Share