Our Story
KhanyaBha Academy of Maths and Science was established in 2017 and is domiciled in Pietermaritzburg,Umgungundlovu District in the Kwazulu Natal province. The tuition activities commenced in March of the same year. The Academy offers extra-tuition classes to school-going learners.
The classes are conducted at the Plessislaer campus of Umgungundlovu TVET College in Imbali Township on Saturdays and during school holidays. The project focuses on Mathematics and Science to benefit learners at Grade 7 to Grade 12 levels.
Tuition is done by carefully selected practising Mathematics and Science teachers who have a good track record and experience. The operations of the Academy are guided and directed by the Management Team who are themselves experts in the field of teaching the subjects.
Vision
To contribute to the advancement of Mathematics and Science Education in South Africa and become a Centre of Excellence in the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Science guided by the vision of the National Development Plan (2030).
Mission
To support school learners by providing high-quality tuition programmes in Mathematics and Science education thereby increasing the pool of learners that can take up careers in scientific and technological fields.
Values
Integrity, Excellence, Accountability and Learner-Centeredness Approach and Inclusivity.
WHY ARE WE HERE?
The need for the project arose out of consideration of the poor pass rates in mathematics and science at secondary school level. In the Umgungundlovu District, the grade 12 pass rates in Mathematics and Science have been around 40% over the years. Comparative international studies have consistently found that the performance of our learners in these subjects is one of the worst in the world. The 2019 international survey of achievements in mathematics and science of 64 countries by Trends in International Mathematics and Science Studies (TIMMS) confirms the challenges that this country is facing. Of the 64 countries surveyed, the achievement of South African learners ranked 61.
The core issue that the project seeks to address is the low achievement of learners in mathematics and science. The project, therefore, aims to enhance the performance of the learners from predominantly rural and peri-urban schools in these subjects. We believe that the poor performance of learners, especially at National Senior Certificate level and beyond, is largely a function of inadequate requisite background knowledge. This explains the strategy of the Academy of focusing on the lower grades.
The project’s vision is aligned with the National Development Plan (2030) which, amongst other goals is to increase the pool of learners that can follow careers in scientific and technological fields. The Academy aims to make a modest contribution towards the achievement of this goal.
Grades 8 and 9 are often neglected, which is short-sighted. Success in the NSC is built on the solid foundation of learning in earlier grades” Mary Metcalfe, Professor of Education, University of Johannesburg. Hence our focus is also on the lower grades starting with Grade 7.
Good achievement in Mathematics and Science at school plays a critical role in the social mobility of learners as it unlocks immense opportunities for careers in high demand.
Khanyabha has run the classes through funding initially received from KPMG.
We appreciate and are grateful that the ESKOM FOUNDATION has funded Khanyabha for the last 5 years.
BE PART OF THE KHANYABHA FAMILY
▪Parents/Guardians of current and past students give regular feedback on the programme ▪Former Learners update us on your progress and achievements ▪ Become a Partner or Sponsor . Partnerships, Sponsorships and Donations will help to ensure the sustainability of the Programmes and to reach out to more learners and educators.NO CONTRIBUTION IS TOO SMALL