Nearly 50 educators from the Mutale Municipal area will now be able to upgrade their teaching skills in science and mathematics - thanks to the R347 000 Educators Upgrading programme funded by Kumba Resources – Tshikondeni Mine.

Although funded by Kumba Resources, the programme will be a joint venture between the University of Venda and the Department of Education. The long-awaited programme was officially launched at the University of Venda Senate Chambers on Monday.

Starting from last Monday, the Grade 10 to 12 teachers would receive a one-week training workshop on mathematics and science skills and they will be issued with competency certificates after the training.

Corporate and Social Investment Manager at Tshikondeni Mine Lufuno Kone said the initiative came after the mine realized that there was a low pass rate in mathematics and science in Mutale schools. "Our job is to develop the communities and we are bound to do something for the future of our learners. We felt that the first step towards the improvement of mathematics and science results is to train the teachers. The low pass rate in these subjects in the Mutale area has been our concern for quite sometime and it is now time to implement the solution to the problem."

Kone says the sponsorship covers meals, study material and payments for lecturers.

Meanwhile, Prof Omara Ojungu of the University of Venda was over the moon about the programme. "One of our key businesses as a university is community service and improving the quality of training in our communities. The programme is a direct result of our closer dealings with the communities and we thank Kumba Resources for their involvement. We will continue working with different community stakeholders to make our country a better place." Dr. Moses Rathando of the Department of Education said: "The department will give support to the programme because we know that it is meant to yield good results for our learners and educators. This is a milestone achievement to our education system which will strengthen our position as champions of mathematics and science in the country."

A teacher at Sumbana High School, one of the beneficiaries of the programme, Tondani Mudau said: "I will now be able to produce quality results because of the knowledge I will gain after completing the programme."