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Denel's classes help matric achiever

10 Jan 2014

Itumeleng Mofokeng, a former pupil at Vaal Reefs Technical High School, scored an astonishing 100% for Physics and 99% in Mathematics in the 2013 matric exams. Mofokeng was part of a group of 20 grade 12 students who attended enrichment classes offered by Denel to learners in the North West Province.

The Denel's Schools Outreach Programme offers extra Maths and Science classes to grade 11 and 12 students. Denel supports schools identified by government to become centres of excellence in the teaching of Maths and Science and are central to meeting the objectives of the strategy for Maths, Science and Technology education. In other instances, engineers from Denel volunteer their time to teach Maths and Science classes over weekends and holiday periods.

Vested interest

Fikile Mhlontlo, Denel's group financial director, says the programme is part of the company's efforts to improve educational outcomes. "As a high technology company with a strong focus on engineering, research and development Denel has a vested interest in Maths and Science teaching. We are exceptionally proud of the results achieved through our programme which was started ten years ago."

All the participants in the outreach programme have achieved university exemptions and learners from the North West will be honoured at a special awards function on Saturday, 11 January. The company has decided to expand the programme in 2014 and double the number of learners who can attend the additional classes.

Bursaries and internships

A number of divisions in the Denel group present enrichment programmes to learners in the North West and in the vicinity of its campuses in Centurion and Ekurhuleni. The company is currently supporting more than 250 high school learners in five provinces. Denel also offers bursaries and internships to deserving students who study engineering disciplines at various tertiary institutions while the Denel Technical Academy provides training for artisans in the aerospace and associated engineering trades.

Mofokeng says the Denel programme undoubtedly contributed to his matric success. "It greatly added to the curriculum offered by the school and provided me with a deeper insight into the subjects of Physics and Mathematics."

The young achiever who hails from Kanana in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District will soon start his studies in Actuarial Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand.