THE Engen Maths and Science Schools (EMSS) 2023 matric class in East London achieved excellent results.
Engen celebrated the effort and sacrifice of the top learners at an awards ceremony held at Lumko Secondary School Centre in East on February 17.
According to Engen’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) manager, Olwethu Mdabula, the EMSS programme focuses on providing extra tuition in gateway subjects such as mathematics, science, and English.
“These subjects are considered critical in addressing the country’s technical and engineering skills shortage, as well as spurring economic growth and development.
“While Engen is extremely proud of all the 2023 matriculants, I must make special mention of, and commend, the incredible results attained by our top achievers,” said Mdabula.
According to her, EMSS seeks to harness the potential of talented young people to help boost the pool of scarce skills in the country.
She added that the programme is a lifeline for these students, offering them the resources and guidance necessary to achieve academic excellence and pursue higher education.
“The recently released Department of Basic Education (DBE) technical report reveals encouraging improvements in the pass rates for mathematics and physical science, with mathematics increasing from 55 percent in 2022 to 63.5 percent in 2023. However, a concerning aspect is that out of the 166 337 learners who passed maths, only 41 273 achieved a mark of 60 percent and above, which is the minimum qualifying maths mark for university entrance to engineering, commerce and science degrees.
“This data underscores the invaluable role that EMSS plays in providing crucial support to young learners, particularly those demonstrating potential in STEM subjects.”
She added that in addition to mathematics, the pass rate for physical science also showed a positive trend, rising from 74.6 percent to 76.2 percent. However, only 35 468 learners achieved a mark of 60 percent and above, emphasising the continued need for initiatives like EMSS to bolster education in this critical subject.
Mdabula added that by providing extra tuition in gateway subjects like English, mathematics and physical science, the programme strives to bridge the educational gap and empower students to reach their full potential.
According to her, Engen will host a series of awards ceremonies in February at various EMSS centres across South Africa where the programme’s Grades 10 to 12 learners will be honoured, and the top achievers named.
According to Mdabula, starting off in the late 1980s as Engen Saturday Schools, EMSS remains central to Engen’s efforts to contribute to the growth and transformation of South Africa.
“The programme, with over 1 500 learners registered annually, continues to work tirelessly to help transform young people’s lives, with a focus on creating a diverse and vibrant workforce,” said Mdabula.
Chalking up four distinctions in matric, a former student from Sophathisana Senior Secondary School, Liyabona Malangeni from Mthatha, is firmly on the path to realising her dream of becoming a medical doctor. She attributed much of her academic success to the supplementary classes she attended from Grades 10 to 12 at the Engen Maths and Science School in East London, which helped secure a place at Walter Sisulu University to study a BSc (Chemistry) in 2024.
She said that she could say Engen was a bridge to her dream, and she is certain that without those Saturday classes she would not have made it this far, especially when it comes to English.
“I really appreciate the opportunity I got from them to become a better version of myself. To learners struggling with maths and physics I would like to recommend Engen classes to them, because it is a golden opportunity served on a silver platter as you do not pay a cent, the only thing you offer is your brain,” said Liyabona.
Another former student from Tsholomnqa Senior Secondary in East London, Lwandisiwe Wetu (17), believes that if the person is truly hungry for success, they should focus solely on their books and nothing else.
Passionate about music and songwriting, the Tsholomnqa local aced matric and earned herself a place at Rhodes University, where she will pursue a Bachelor of Music. She passed with two distinctions, including 86 percent for English.
She said that it actually gave extra help on her academics, and if she did not understand a certain concept at her school, the teachers of the programme would help her understand it better.
“This might have been said by a lot of people, but it is the only key to knocking down maths and science. Practise, if you do not understand; do not be scared to bother teachers with questions. They like that, but they will not tell you.
“I had a challenge of under-estimating some concepts due to distractions I had. I then suggested that one be honest with oneself and outline the interruptions to their studies, and find a way to work out with them. It is hard to take a glass and put it back to its shape when broken,” she said.
THE Engen Maths and Science Schools (EMSS) 2023 matric class in East London has achieved flying colours.
Engen celebrated the effort and sacrifice of the top learners at an awards ceremony that was held at Lumko Secondary School Centre in East on February 17.
According to Engen’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Manager, Olwethu Mdabula, the EMSS programme focuses on providing extra tuition in gateway subjects such as mathematics and science and English.
“These subjects are considered critical in addressing the country’s technical and engineering skills shortage as well as spurring economic growth and development.
While Engen is extremely proud of all the 2023 matriculants, I must make special mention of, and commend the incredible results attained by our top achievers,” said Mdabula.
According to her, EMSS seeks to harness the potential of talented young people to help boost the pool of scarce skills in the country.
She added that the programme is a lifeline for these students, offering them the resources and guidance necessary to achieve academic excellence and pursue higher education.
“The recently released Department of Basic Education (DBE) technical report reveals encouraging improvements in the pass rates for mathematics and physical science, with mathematics increasing from 55% in 2022 to 63.5% in 2023. However, a concerning aspect is that out of the 166 337 learners who passed maths, only 41 273 achieved a mark of 60% and above, which is the minimum qualifying maths mark for university entrance to engineering, commerce and science degrees. This data underscores the invaluable role that EMSS plays in providing crucial support to young learners, particularly those demonstrating potential in STEM subjects.”
She added that in addition to mathematics, the pass rate for physical science also showed a positive trend, rising from 74.6% to 76.2%; however, only 35 468 learners achieved a mark of 60% and above, emphasising the continued need for initiatives like EMSS to bolster education in this critical subject.
Mdabula added that by providing extra tuition in gateway subjects like English, Mathematics and Physical Science, the programme strives to bridge the educational gap and empower students to reach their full potential.
According to her, Engen will host a series of awards ceremonies in February at various EMSS centres across South Africa where the programme’s Grades 10 to 12 learners will be honoured, and the top achievers named.
According to Mdabula starting off in the late 1980s as Engen Saturday Schools, EMSS remains central to Engen’s efforts to contribute to the growth and transformation of South Africa.
“The programme, with over 1 500 learners registered annually, continues to work tirelessly to help transform young people’s lives, with a focus on creating a diverse and vibrant workforce.”
Chalking up four distinctions in matric, a former student from Sophathisana Senior Secondary School, Liyabona Malangeni from Mthatha firmly on the path to realising her dream of becoming a medical doctor. She attributed much of her academic success to the supplementary classes she attended from grades 10 to 12 at the Engen Maths and Science School in East London, which helped secure her a place at Walter Sisulu University to study a BSc (Chemistry) in 2024.
She said that she could say Engen was a bridge to her dream, and she is certain that without those Saturday classes she would not have made it this far especially when it comes to English.
“I really appreciate the opportunity I got from them to become a better version of myself. To learners who are struggling with maths and physics I would like to recommend Engen classes to them because it is a golden opportunity served in silver platter as you do not even pay a cent, the only thing you offer them is your brain,” said Liyabona.
Another former student from Tsholomnqa Senior Secondary in East London, Lwandisiwe Wetu (17), believes that if the person truly hungry for success, they should focus solely on their books and nothing else.
She is passionate about music and songwriting, the Tsholomnqa local aced matric and earned herself a place at Rhodes University, where she will be pursuing a Bachelor of Music, she passed with two distinctions including 86% for English.
She said that it actually gave extra help on her academics and if she did not understand a certain concept at her school, the teachers of the programme would help her understand it better.
“This might have been said by a lot of people but it is the only key to knocking down maths and science. Practice, if you do not understand do not be scared to bother teachers with questions, they like that but they will not tell you. I had a challenge of under estimating some concepts due to distractions I had. I then suggest that one be honest with themselves and outline the interruptions to their studies and find a way to work out with them. It is hard to pick a glass and put it back to its shape when broken,” she said.
