Seven Grade 11 Silikamva High School pupils are boosting their chances of being accepted to a university thanks to a generous donation from Rotaract Hout Bay.
Rotaract Hout Bay, which falls under the Rotary Club of Hout Bay, has partnered with Imizamo Yethu’s Maths Clinic to help improve the pupils’ maths and physical science marks.
The pupils are all part of the Rotaract mentorship programme.
The Maths Clinic, an NPO founded in January 2016 by Mpumezo Dungelo, has gone from strength to strength, improving pupils’ marks in these subjects in both Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg.
“Rotaract came to us after noticing that its students were not meeting university requirements for maths and physical science,” Mr Dungelo said.
“The registration fee is R400 a term, but these pupils’ parents could not afford this, so Rotaract stepped in. We are a non-profit, but we require this money to cover our operational costs as well as learning materials.”
In accepting pupils to the Maths Clinic, tutors are not as much concerned with their academic results as they are about their behaviour, enthusiasm and commitment to learn.
“We started working with the seven pupils on May 14, and I can say they meet all these criteria. These kids just need an extra something to improve their results, and if they continue to adhere to our model, I am sure they will all pass well.”
Rotaract’s Azola Nyoka and Nangamso Booi explained that it was mainly Silikamva High pupils who were part of their mentorship programme.
“Most of us are students and some are working, so we can’t always attend to every need of the students. That is why we’re trying to get as many organisations as possible to assist,” Ms Booi said.
These seven pupils were selected because they were doing maths and physical science, Ms Nyoka said.
“We tried to access funds from other donors, but we had to fund them from our own budget. We decided that instead of going to find tutors elsewhere, we would find someone from the community, and that’s when we reached out to Mpumezo,” Ms Booi said.
Silikamva High maths teacher Moregood Muchineripi has welcomed the sponsorship of the pupils at the Maths Clinic.
“As a teacher, you see the need for extra learning, but you can’t always do anything about it. You can’t always give the extra attention because there are so many grades to teach,” he said.
“When the Maths Clinic started it was a relief for me. I’ve seen such a change in the kids who attend. Once they’re started attending, those who used to be quiet are wanting to answer all the questions in class. Any assistance is welcome, especially when there is such a phobia around maths.”
Rotaract Hout Bay is always looking to partner with organisations, and also would appreciate any funding.
They can be contacted at rotaracthb@gmail.com
* The Maths Clinic is requiring the services of a volunteer physical science tutor for Grades 11 and 12. It is also looking for a part-time administrative assistant. For more information, call Bheki on 073 568 9692 or Mpumezo on 071 075 1235 or email mpumezo@mathsclinic.org.za
