BACKGROUND
Problem Statement
The South African economy has been characterized by slow growth and frequent stagnations. The economy has not been growing at a significant rate to produce employment for quite a long time. Our economy has always been characterized by a high shortage of critical and scarce skills, while on the other hand has been faced with a high unemployment rate, especially youth unemployment. The economy has a high shortage of professionals in critical fields such as computer scientists, medical specialists, medical doctors, geologists, mining engineers, energy and industrial engineers, mechanical and chemical engineers, scientists, technologists, astrologists, mathematicians, chartered accountants and auditors, agricultural scientists, and many other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics related professionals. Each year, universities produce less graduates in these critical fields.
Universities receive thousands of applications each year from Grade 12 learners, however only 37% of the total matriculants are accepted annually by Institutions of Higher Learning to further their studies. The remaining 63% do not further their studies at universities due to poor quality of their matric results that do not meet the entry requirements to various university programmes. The majority of learners who are accepted by universities study general qualifications, due to them not having studied Mathematics and Science in matric. This leads to universities producing a high number of general graduates who do not have Mathematics, Science, Engineering and Technology, and thus flood the general market, which translates into a high number of unemployed graduates as they do not have the relevant requirements demanded by the critical skills shortage..
When it comes to Mathematics and Science, only 34% of learners (ie Gr10-12) study Mathematics, 2% study Technical Mathematics and the remainder study Mathematical Literacy (ie 64%); also around 25% study Physical Science. Although 68% of learners pass Mathematics and 66% pass Physics, the majority of learners receive the minimum pass mark of 35% - 50% which enable them to complete matric with a bachelors pass, however these marks do not meet most university admission requirements of 65% and above for Mathematics and Physics in order to be accepted to enroll for various engineering fields, medicine, computer science, chartered accounting, information technology, astronomy, etc. This is the reason why universities are unable to produce enough graduates in the critical skills required fields demanded by the economy. If the following two steps are not taken: (1) Promote Mathematics as a high demand subject choice as opposed to Mathematical Literacy and (2). Intervention for those studying Mathematics to enable them to excel and produce quality results, the issue of shortage of critical skills, unemployed graduates and matriculants not being accepted by universities, will not be solved. Many learners in Grades 8 and 9 struggle with Mathematics, which directly affects their Mathematics and Science subject choices in Grade 10. When learners perform poorly in Mathematics during their high school foundation years, they often move away from Pure Mathematics and Science, opting for Mathematical Literacy which automatically limits access to future critical careers in engineering, technology, finance, health sciences, and other critical skills and high-demand fields.
STEAM Excellence Foundation was established in order to focus on solutions to address the challenges of STEAM subjects experienced by high school learners in South Africa. We have partnered with Micareer that focuses on Grades 8 and 9 learners in supporting them to enjoy and excel in Mathematics, allowing them to choose Pure Mathematics / Technical Mathematics and Physical Science / Technical Science and Accounting in Grade 10 and beyond. Micareer also supports learners in Gr10, Gr11 and Gr12 already doing Pure Mathematics / Technical Mathematics, Physical Science / Technical Science and Accounting to excel and achieve top quality results in their exams.
Micareer focuses on providing online extra tutoring support lessons of STEAM subjects (ie Science, Technology, Engineering, Accounting and Mathematics) to learners in public and private schools throughout South Africa, by using expert tutors who had received top results in their matric and post-matric studies in these subjects; together with a digital learning platform that consists of top-quality exam-focused study guides, study resources, exam readiness assessments, monthly progress reporting, and a Mathematics and Science clinic helpline. Micareer also provides technology-based career guidance and counselling to learners to help raise awareness of careers available in the market and to identify their career choices, expectations, entry requirements and opportunities. STEAM Excellence Foundation partners with schools to identify learners who are studying Mathematics and Science and are struggling in these subjects, thus requiring extra educational support to perform well. The Foundation mobilises funding from various donors, corporate sponsors, individuals, government departments, professionals and any interested citizens and organisations interested in supporting learners studying Mathematics and Science who need extra lessons support across various public and private schools throughout the country, giving them access to attend the Micareer Support Programme. This is aimed at stimulating and driving the country’s economic growth through critical skills and youth employment.
How to Participate in Sponsorsing Learners for the STEAM Programme
Any interested businesses, corporates, organisations, government departments, international donors/sponsors, professionals, academics and individual citizens can participate in this STEAM programme and initiatives by partnering with STEAM Excellence Foundation in providing financial sponsorship towards any number of learners of their choice, from various schools, who are studying Mathematics and Science and are in need of this extra-support in order to excel in their exams.
Simply complete and submit the Sponsorship Form.