A comprehensive and inclusive education system is the cornerstone of any society. The Anglo American South Africa Education Programme focuses on providing inclusive and quality education to children in our local communities from early childhood to matric and onto post-secondary youth. Furthermore, the programme is supporting the transition to remote and online learning, and improving remote learning skills and capacity, as this is essential during the pandemic. Looking to the future, online learning and access to ICT skills are vital to individual development and to facing the demands of a changing global landscape.
Most South African schools experience poor or no connectivity and a lack of electronic devices such as tablets or computers. As a consequence, many learners do not develop the requisite skills to take advantage of the potential of remote learning. The digitisation of the South African school system is necessary to mitigate the impact of remote learning, forced upon teachers and pupils alike. It is also key to equip the current and future generations with the requisite digital skills to participate in the digital world.
Anglo American launched its South Africa Education Programme in 2018 as part of our commitment to building thriving and sustainable communities, which is an integral part of our Sustainable Mining Plan. So far, the programme has supported 73,000 learners and 2,400 teachers by investing over R100 million per year 2018 - 2023. We are also providing Wi-Fi towers, devices and e-content to 109 schools in our host communities through one of our various projects.
The targeted outcomes for the Anglo American South Africa Education Programme in the communities we serve include:
- 90% of learners aged five meeting the minimum requirements for school readiness
- 90% of Grade 3 learners passing with at least 50% in numeracy and literacy
- 75% of Grade 6 learners passing with at least 50% in mathematics and English First Additional Language
- 90% matriculation pass rate, with a 50% university entrance
- 65% of Grade 12 learners passing with at least 50% in mathematics
- Our 31 partner schools to be among the top 30% in the country
We realise that a holistic approach based on partnerships is crucial to success. We are therefore working in co-operation with a variety of stakeholders, including the Department of Basic Education, infrastructure providers, device providers, content creators, community organisations and NGOs.
Commitments must be ongoing and take advantage of the skills and experiences of the various partners and stakeholders. This approach will lay the foundation for the growth and development of a new generation of teachers and learners who will benefit from, and contribute to, the rapidly changing world around us.