Millions of Rand are committed to Skills Development (SD) under the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy every year by the South African corporate sector. This scale of investment holds the potential to substantially impact socio-economic transformation in the country but for many corporations, it has defaulted to an exercise of B-BBEE compliance.
With SD now taking the spotlight in the national economic empowerment agenda thanks to the Department of Trade and Industry’s amendments to the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice, companies should be thinking more strategically about their approaches to SD and how to invest the required 3-6% of payroll in line with core segments of their businesses. It makes sense to carefully identify SD opportunities and work to build solid and reliable relationships with partners.
IkamvaYouth has set up a matric bursary programme, which represents an opportunity for corporations to earn points under the B-BBEE codes and achieve lasting impact. If you would like to know more about this programme, please contact Alex Smith at alex@ikamvayouth.org. IkamvaYouth is a Level 1 B-BBEE supplier as more than 75% of its beneficiaries are black South Africans.
Investing your SD spend in IkamvaYouth represents an opportunity to achieve lasting impact and unlock transformative potential.
The problem that exists in South Africa
It is well known that South Africa’s education system is still in crisis. 80% of South African schools are deemed to be ‘dysfunctional’, and of the 1.3 million learners who begin school each year in South Africa, less than half will ever reach matriculation. In a study of grade 6 mathematics teachers, researchers found that 79% of teachers’ content knowledge was below grade level taught.
In South Africa, from a class of 20, only 8 will complete Grade 12 (High School Graduation), 3 will achieve a pass enabling them to access university and only 2 will reach university. Of these 2 learners, only 1 is likely to be from a township yet the majority of South Africa’s children live in townships.
What is IkamvaYouth and what impact has it achieved?
Each of IkamvaYouth’s programmes addresses the problems in simple yet effective and measurable ways:
- Supplementary tutoring and homework sessions enable learners to improve their grades;
- Career guidance broadens learners’ awareness of post-school opportunities;
- Mentoring ensures that learners access these opportunities;
- Computer literacy and access equips learners with essential skills and information;
- The Media, Image and Expression programme affords opportunities for learners to express themselves creatively and assertively and build their self-esteem;
- Health and Leadership programmes ensure HIV/AIDS, nutrition, and broader health awareness and voluntary testing provides learners with the information and VCT services they need to manage their health.
Learners enrolled in the programme have access to over 300 hours of tutoring & workshops per year as well as a two-week winter school programme.
By participating in these programmes in afternoons after school, on Saturday mornings and during the school holidays, ikamvanites are empowered to take their futures into their own hands.
Since our inception, we have replicated our results in 17 township branches around the country. In 2017, our branches support 2,400 learners in Grades 8-12.
From a programme’s perspective our success is measured by the success of our learners and in the last six years:
- 1,120 learners have completed Grade 12;
- 84.3% have passed matric;
- 53% of learners have accessed tertiary (university or college);
- 41% obtained a Bachelor pass enabling access to university;
- 89% accessed a post school opportunity (tertiary, job, learnership or have upgraded their matric) putting them on the path to earning a dignified living
Please contact Alex Smith to find out more about supporting IkamvaYouth: alex@ikamvayouth.org.
Lloyd Lungu