/ 26 June 2009

Learners swap holidays for maths camp

0While the majority of learners around the country start their mid-year holidays today, a group of pupils will be gathering for intensive science and maths development camps.

At least one thousand grade 11 and 12 learners will be sacrificing the first part of their holidays to attend the camps being held in five provinces.

The camps are being run by the Thuthuka initiatives of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) that target black learners who aspire to become chartered accountants

“The primary aim of the camps is to assist learners to improve their aptitude in core mathematics, science, accounting and English thereby enhancing their skills to successfully access post-matric study opportunities and enter scarce skills professions such as accounting, science, engineering and technology,” says Edward Makwana of SAICA.

Facilitators, a mixture of education experts and professionals who specialise in life skills development programmes, are invited to help motivate the learners and develop skills such as time-management, numeracy, study skills and examination techniques help them in their studies and when they sit for examinations.

Makwana told the Teacher that participating learners were identified through the various provincial education departments, based on them having achieved a minimum level 5, or 60 to 69%, in maths, either in grade 11 or 12.

“The participating learners will also have the opportunity to apply to the Thuthuka Bursary Fund if they intend studying chartered accountancy.”