In a fitting acknowledgement to the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Ikateleng project’s 35 years of dedication to improving education and lives, the university recently welcomed 132 Ikateleng beneficiaries as first-year students across its three campuses in Mahikeng, Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark.

Ikateleng, which means empower yourself, is a flagship project that support school children from disadvantaged backgrounds in Grade 10 to 12. It provides supplementary teaching in mathematics, economics, business studies, accounting, life science, physical science, and English.

Unfortunately, for the first time this year, Grade 10 learners were excluded from the academic programme due to insufficient funds.

Despite this setback, Celeste Rossouw, Ikateleng’s project coordinator, thanks the numerous individual donors, corporations and private companies that have provided the third-stream income on which the Ikateleng project fully relies on.

Ikateleng’s achievements

Last year, 548 Grade 12 learners from approximately 65 high schools from four provinces (North West, Gauteng, Northern Cape and Free State), enrolled in the Ikateleng project.

Of those learners, 75% passed with admission to bachelors’ degree studies and 19% passed with admission to diploma studies.

“That means 94% of Ikateleng candidates passed their Grade 12 exams, which is well above the national average of 80% for 2022,” says Celeste.

She adds that a huge percentage of Ikateleng participants end up enrolling at the NWU, as is the case with the 132 first years who chose to study at the NWU this year.

“Over the years we have seen improvements, and from around 2019 we’ve seen the bachelor’s degree pass rate increasing to more than 20%. We really do see a difference in the quality of students that we receive as first-year students,” says Celeste.

What former Ikateleng students say

The NWU mascots are having fun with some of the former Ikateleng beneficiaries and now first-year students.

• · Second from left is Sindiswa Yamanga, who is pursuing aBSc degree in biological sciences with botany and microbiology.

“Ikateleng helped me with my mathematics and physics, and the teacher saw to it that I understood the content.”

• · Third from left is Oarabile Ntsako, who is pursuing a BEd degree.

“Ikateleng has helped me regarding my school performance, and I have also gained self-confidence.”

• · Second from right is Kanalemang Claudia Ntshe, who is pursuing a BSc degree in physics with chemistry.

“The project helped me a lot and there was improvement in my matric results. It helped me with many subjects I was struggling with.”

• · Third from the right is Kagisho Nynooka.

“Because of Ikateleng I managed to improve my results. Now I’m here at the NWU doing my BSc degree in environmental science with microbiology and chemistry.”

How the Ikateleng project works

Each October Ikateleng staff visit participating schools to share information and prepare prospective learners who intend to enrol for the project the following year. They also share information on subject selection and combinations.

Tutors with proven track records in their areas of specialisation are recruited to offer supplementary teaching over 17 Saturdays. An awards ceremony is held at the various centres on the last Saturday of the project, and donors are acknowledged for supporting the programme.

Some 780 learners in Grades 11 and 12 have been registered to participate in this year’s Ikateleng project.

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Listen to Celeste Rossouw, coordinator of Ikateleng, talking about the project.