- Isuzu Motors South Africa is providing three schools in Gqeberha with innovative teaching software and courses to help learners improve their math and science results.
- Three high schools will gain access to innovative learning platforms that don’t require internet.
- Nearly 50 matrics will be selected to take part in a math and coding incubator, where participants will also receive tablets.
In a bid to aid disadvantaged schools in the country, and their teachers and learners with mathematics and science, Isuzu Motors South Africa says that it is providing three high schools in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape with the latest mobile learning technology.
On Thursday last week, the carmaker officially launched its latest partnership with the Nelson Mandela University’s Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC), one that will see nearby schools provided with learning software in the hopes of improving the results of learning in these famously difficult subjects.
“Mathematics and Physical Sciences are critical subjects for graduates seeking employment in the automotive industry, and we are proud to partner with GMMDC on this project,” said Lebogang Makoloi, ISUZU’s Corporate and Public Affairs executive.
The new leg of the partnership is set to run from 2024 to 2026, with three schools set to benefit first. Namely, the KwaZakhele, Newell, and Sophakama High Schools.
“Through this collaboration, the programme aims to empower Mathematics and Physical Sciences teachers with the latest tools and mobile learning support platforms, including the GammaTutor mobile teaching device and curriculum-aligned MobiTutorZA software,” Isuzu South Africa explains in a press statement sent to Hypertext.
“These customized resources enable effective teaching and learning at schools without requiring an internet connection,” it adds.
Another part of Isuzu’s partnership with the GMMDC is one that is designed to bolster STEM skills development in schools. A project that encompasses three key components.
Firstly, matric learners from the three schools will be selected to take part in an intensive Mathematics and Coding skills development programme. This after-school programme will be a nine-month initiative for those looking to enter STEM fields in the future and will be led by mathematics teachers and will be technology-assisted.
These matrics will also be given tablets to aid them in the programme and later on in their studies.
The second component will see Mathematics Teachers at the three high schools selected to participate in a professional development programme accredited by the South African Council for Educators, and finally the last component will see all grades of the schools allowed to access an online math and science learning platform for a full year.
“We are deliberate in the role we play in the education space. We pay particular attention to assisting schools and learners who come from disadvantaged communities. The partnership with GMMDC provides us with an opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of learners, with the future in mind”, explains Makoloi.
“The effortless incorporation of the latest technology into current support initiatives for Mathematics and Physical Sciences educators is worth noting,” shared Professor Werner Olivier, director at the Nelson Mandela Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre.
“It is the mission of GMMDC to develop and implement innovative techno-blended models to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in Mathematics and Physical Sciences in secondary schools and to improve critical skills for sustainable economic development,” Prof. Olivier concludes.
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