 The need for interventions in Maths and Science at South African school level continues. This is further necessitated by the decline in the number of learners registering for Maths and Science, and the knock-on effect of this on registrations at tertiary level for courses that have Maths and/or Science as prerequisites. This scenario has resulted in Transnet Foundation launching the Sharp Minds! Get Ahead in Life Initiative.  The project runs over a 2 year cycle in four provinces, namely North West in Moretele, Limpopo in Sekhukhune, KZN in Mtubatuba and Free State in Maluti A Phofung. These sites are the same nodes where Transnet Foundation sponsored the development of education multi purpose centres.
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| Sharp Minds creates a conducive learning environment. |
Each designated area targets 100 learners. Such learners are identified through an objective Grade 10 curriculum based selection test in Mathematics and Physical Science.
The Sharp Minds programme entails a 5 pillar programme that includes Subject Acceleration Tutorials in Maths; Science; English; Study Skills; Life Skills; Career Guidance and Computer Literacy.
Those learners from the programme who successfully complete matric and enter institutions of higher learning to follow careers classified as scarce skills by Transnet Limited, qualify to be part of the after care support services of Sharp Minds. This involves financial assistance and mentoring.
The learner development process consists of:
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| Learners willingly take a pledge (vowing their commitment to the Sharp Minds programme.) |
- Learners attend school based curriculum tutorial classes every Saturday for 34 weeks within the school calendar.
- Subject mastery gaps are identified and intervention strategies put in place to bridge the gaps throughout the programme cycle.
- External moderators moderate continuous learner assessments.
For those educators whose learners are on the programme, a structured curriculum based in-service training and classroom coaching in Maths, Science and Technology is offered. This consists of twenty workshops per annum that seek to deepen the educators’ understanding of their subject matter and enhance their teaching competencies for Maths, Science and Technology.
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| Orientation workshops ensure that learners are kept informed. |
The upgrade of existing educational centres modifies the infrastructure to be suitable for the presentation of Maths and Science. Such infrastructure is rare at rural schools. Science, Technology and Computer laboratories are built to enable learners and educators access to an infrastructure that enhances their academic performance, and makes the subject matter tangible.
The after-care learner support will be offered only to learners who participated in the Sharp Minds learner programme. Through this service bursaries will be granted to successful learners who pursue a career in Technology. Transnet Foundation will present the programme in partnership with its Human Resources department in order to link it to the broader skills development programme of Transnet Operating Divisions.
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| The development of educators enables a smooth transition from the Saturday Sharp Minds classroom to the weekday classroom at schools. |
The importance of parents in the successful implementation of the programme is recognised. Interaction with parents, to lobby their continued support and give feedback is ongoing through sustained contact. Furthermore to strengthen their involvement in the programme, they act as caregivers at the Sharp Minds camps. The most important spin off is that these parents also learn and develop from their attendance at the camps. The Foundation ensures that, as a result of their progress, learners and parents do not feel alienated from one another – the project is sensitive not to create a rift between parents and their learners.
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