Nedbank ramps up matric revision campaign

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Nedbank has expanded the 2012 Matric Revision Programme to reach almost 100 schools across disadvantaged communities in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Free State and Limpopo provinces.

Launched in 2010, Nedbank initially invested R2 million in the programme and increased the investment to R2.5-million in 2011. This year, the bank is investing R3.5-million in the programme, bringing the total investment to R8-million in just three years. During the 2012 roll out, the focus will be on key subjects such as English, maths, science and accounting.

IDEAL VENUES

schoolgirls-250The participating schools are chosen according to their pass rate and proximity to the 18 LoveLife Centres where the lessons take place (Photo: MediaClubSouthAfrica.com)The participating schools are chosen according to their pass rate and proximity to the 18 LoveLife Centres where the lessons take place. The LoveLife Centres are ideal venues due to their proximity to communities, enabling the students to access the lessons without incurring any costs.

“The Matric Revision Programme forms part of our integrated Fundisa Programme which looks at addressing education challenges across disadvantaged schools,” said Nedbank executive Kone Gugushe. “The first two years focused on building a solid foundation, which should lead to significant improvements in matric results at schools where the programme is running.”

“We’ve also extended the reach in the Eastern Cape to Mount Frere and Mount Ayliff. Our assessment shows that learners in these areas are in desperate need of such an intervention,” said Gugushe.

Over the years, the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Free State and Limpopo provinces have been among the poorest performing provinces in matric pass rates. In 2011, the Eastern Cape (58.1%, down from 58.3%) and the Northern Cape (68.8%, down from 72.3%) continued to struggle.

However, Limpopo (63.9%, up from 57.9%), the Free State (75.7%, up from 70.7%) and Mpumalanga recorded (64.8%, up from 56.8%) showed reasonable progress.

WINTER CAMPAIGN

Demonstrating ongoing committed to uplifting the communities in which they operate; Nedbank is currently rolling out its 2012 Winter Campaign across South Africa’s nine provinces.

The objective of the initiative is to collect and distribute blankets to bring warmth to South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens, including the schools learners and the elderly.