South Africa faces a critical shortage of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills, significantly hindering economic growth and perpetuating youth unemployment. Many students, particularly those from under-resourced communities, lack access to quality STEM education to enable them to enter university with good entrance requirements. The current school system is congested, and these children are not one of the privileged to receive adequate top-up tuition to enable them to pass comfortably. To allow these children to progress successfully in life, the Supplementary Education Trust (SET) provides them with extra tuition classes on a Saturday aligned to the Department of Education’s CAP curriculum.
Unlocking Potential Through STEM
South Africa faces a critical shortage of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills, significantly hindering economic growth and perpetuating youth unemployment. Many students, particularly those from under-resourced communities, lack access to quality STEM education to enable them to enter university with good entrance requirements. The current school system is congested, and these children are not one of the privileged to receive adequate top-up tuition to enable them to pass comfortably. To allow these children to progress successfully in life, the Supplementary Education Trust (SET) provides them with extra tuition classes on a Saturday aligned to the Department of Education’s CAP curriculum.
Educational Barriers in STEM
South Africa’s urgent need for STEM talent is being severely undermined by deep-rooted educational inequality. Students from under-resourced communities, often are intelligent, driven, and full of potential, are systematically excluded from opportunities to succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics due to the absence of structured academic support outside school hours. These learners are not afforded the privilege of additional tuition that many of their more affluent peers rely on to meet university entrance requirements.
Programme Objectives:
- Bridge the STEM Education Gap and deliver quality tuition from under-resourced communities annually, helping them meet or exceed university entry requirements.
- Improve matric pass rates and Bachelor pass rates for participating students, enabling a minimum of 70% of beneficiaries to qualify for further studies in STEM fields within the academic year.
- Enable Economic Mobility through Education helping our children to break the cycle of poverty and unemployment.
- Provide mentorship, academic support, and soft skills development to nurture self-esteem, discipline, and leadership among youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Strengthening Community Impact and Educational Equity by collaborating with schools, parents, and the Department of Education.
Supplementary Education Trust offers a targeted, scalable intervention to address the academic barriers faced by under-resourced learners, in STEM subjects. Through our Saturday Tuition Programme, we provide structured, high-quality supplementary education aligned with the national CAPS curriculum to help students improve their understanding, performance, and confidence in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences, and English, subjects critical for university admission and future career success.
Educational Barriers in STEM
South Africa’s urgent need for STEM talent is being severely undermined by deep-rooted educational inequality. Students from under-resourced communities, often are intelligent, driven, and full of potential, are systematically excluded from opportunities to succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics due to the absence of structured academic support outside school hours. These learners are not afforded the privilege of additional tuition that many of their more affluent peers rely on to meet university entrance requirements.
Project Objectives:
Programme Objectives:
- Bridge the STEM Education Gap and deliver quality tuition from under-resourced communities annually, helping them meet or exceed university entry requirements.
- Improve matric pass rates and Bachelor pass rates for participating students, enabling a minimum of 70% of beneficiaries to qualify for further studies in STEM fields within the academic year.
- Enable Economic Mobility through Education helping our children to break the cycle of poverty and unemployment.
- Provide mentorship, academic support, and soft skills development to nurture self-esteem, discipline, and leadership among youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Strengthening Community Impact and Educational Equity by collaborating with schools, parents, and the Department of Education.
Supplementary Education Trust offers a targeted, scalable intervention to address the academic barriers faced by under-resourced learners, in STEM subjects. Through our Saturday Tuition Programme, we provide structured, high-quality supplementary education aligned with the national CAPS curriculum to help students improve their understanding, performance, and confidence in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences, and English, subjects critical for university admission and future career success.
Our solution is simple yet transformative: provide disadvantaged Grade 10–12 students with consistent access to qualified educators, curated learning materials, and a focused, distraction-free learning environment every Saturday. These sessions are designed to fill the knowledge gaps left by overcrowded or underperforming schools, reinforce classroom learning, and help students master critical content ahead of final exams.
Our solution is simple yet transformative: provide disadvantaged Grade 10–12 students with consistent access to qualified educators, curated learning materials, and a focused, distraction-free learning environment every Saturday. These sessions are designed to fill the knowledge gaps left by overcrowded or underperforming schools, reinforce classroom learning, and help students master critical content ahead of final exams.
Together, We Can Do More
With your support, SET will expand this solution to reach more learners in underserved areas, improve pass rates, and open pathways to higher education and economic mobility ensuring that no child’s future is limited by their circumstances.
Key Activities
Key Activities
Need analysis and curriculum design and resource planning.
Learner recruitment and selection.
Learning site collaboration and partnership development for onsite implementation and rollout.
Training and capacity building for educators and mentors.
Monitoring and Evaluation.
Technical support and student progress tracking.
Awards ceremonies for recognition and celebration.
Post-Programme Support and Sustainability with partnerships for bursaries and university assistance.
Programme Outcome:
Improved Academic Performance in STEM Subjects of at least 70% of participating earners show measurable improvement within one academic year.
Increased Access to University and STEM Careers.
Reduction in Dropout and Failure Rates.
Development of Confident, Resilient Learners.
Strengthened Community and School Collaboration.
Scalable, Replicable Education Model.
Programme Outcome:
Improved Academic Performance in STEM Subjects of at least 70% of participating earners show measurable improvement within one academic year.
Increased Access to University and STEM Careers.
Reduction in Dropout and Failure Rates.
Development of Confident, Resilient Learners.
Strengthened Community and School Collaboration.
Scalable, Replicable Education Model.
Programme Budget:
- Programme Focus: In-person Saturday tuition support in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences, and English.
- Target Group: 150 academically promising learners in Grades 10–12, drawn from underserved communities.
- Delivery Model: Face-to-face sessions delivered over 22 to 26 Saturdays per year, aligned with the CAPS curriculum.
- Funding Period: 3 years (multi-year commitment preferred for sustainability and measurable impact).
- Support Required: We welcome funding contributions toward programme delivery, learning materials, transport, educator costs, venue hire, and learner support resources.
Programme Budget:
- Programme Focus: In-person Saturday tuition support in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences, and English.
- Target Group: 150 academically promising learners in Grades 10–12, drawn from underserved communities.
- Delivery Model: Face-to-face sessions delivered over 22 to 26 Saturdays per year, aligned with the CAPS curriculum.
- Funding Period: 3 years (multi-year commitment preferred for sustainability and measurable impact).
- Support Required: We welcome funding contributions toward programme delivery, learning materials, transport, educator costs, venue hire, and learner support resources.
The programme targets high school learners in Grades 10, 11, and 12 (ages 14–18) from under-resourced communities who demonstrate academic potential in STEM subjects but lack access to quality instruction, structured academic support, and exam preparation.
OBJECTIVE | KEY INDICATORS | MEASUREMENT TOOLS |
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Academic Improvement |
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University Access |
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Retention Engagement |
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Learner Growth Resilience |
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Community Engagement |
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OBJECTIVE | KEY INDICATORS | MEASUREMENT TOOLS |
|---|---|---|
Academic Improvement |
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U |
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Retention Engagement |
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Learner Growth Resilience |
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Community Engagement |
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With a legacy spanning over decades, we have empowered more than 650,000 students through structured, curriculum-aligned academic support programmes. Our national footprint extends across all nine provinces of South Africa, with a particular focus on underserved urban and rural communities. Currently, we support over 3000 high school learners annually through our sponsored STEM-focused tuition programmes, providing targeted academic intervention in STEM subjects. Our scalable delivery model, experienced educator network, and deep community partnerships enable us to consistently deliver high-impact educational outcomes improving learner performance, increasing access to tertiary study, and contributing to national development goals. We remain committed to expanding reach and deepening impact, one learner at a time.
At Supplementary Education Trust, we see beyond statistics and numbers - we see young lives full of hope, dreams, and untapped potential. These learners are not just students; they are future doctors, engineers, scientists, agronomists, teachers, and leaders waiting for a chance to shine. With your support, we can give them that chance. Together, we can make sure their Saturdays aren’t just more school days, but days of encouragement, growth, and real progress. Days where they feel seen, supported, and believed in.
Our Legacy of Success:
With a legacy spanning over decades, we have empowered more than 650,000 students through structured, curriculum-aligned academic support programmes. Our national footprint extends across all nine provinces of South Africa, with a particular focus on underserved urban and rural communities. Currently, we support over 3000 high school learners annually through our sponsored STEM-focused tuition programmes, providing targeted academic intervention in STEM subjects. Our scalable delivery model, experienced educator network, and deep community partnerships enable us to consistently deliver high-impact educational outcomes improving learner performance, increasing access to tertiary study, and contributing to national development goals. We remain committed to expanding reach and deepening impact, one learner at a time.
At Supplementary Education Trust, we see beyond statistics and numbers - we see young lives full of hope, dreams, and untapped potential. These learners are not just students; they are future doctors, engineers, scientists, agronomists, teachers, and leaders waiting for a chance to shine. With your support, we can give them that chance. Together, we can make sure their Saturdays aren’t just more school days, but days of encouragement, growth, and real progress. Days where they feel seen, supported, and believed in.
We invite you to walk this journey with us and create a future where every child, no matter where they come from, knows they can succeed. Thank you for believing in the power of education and in the power of these young hearts and minds. We look forward to partnering with you to make a lasting difference, one learner at a time!
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