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| Foto: Beverley Fanella,
’n adviseur van die Sentrum vir Voornemende Studente, saam met ’n groep
leerders wat deelgeneem het aan die “’n Dag in die lewe van ’n
Matie”-projek as deel van die Vennootskapskoleprojek. Die leeders het ’n dag op die kampus spandeer en in Minerva middagete geëet.
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Partnership Schools Project comes of age
Every year thousands of expectant first-years descend upon universities
across the country to start their tertiary education. But statistics
show that almost half of them never graduate. Most of these students
already drop out in their first year.
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One of the reasons for the high drop-out rate is the massive gap between schools and university.
In an attempt to address this challenge, Stellenbosch University
launched the First-year Academy last year with the view to making a
positive impact on the throughput rate of new students.
But what about prospective students who are not yet on campus? Here the
University can also play an active role, since especially historically
disadvantaged schools have identified a need to expose their learners
to the higher-education environment.
Healthy cooperation between schools and the university has led to the launch of the Partnership Schools Project.
"The University is currently involved in 17 schools in the area to
assist learners in their preparations for tertiary study. An important
element is to identify learners with potential and build a relationship
with them,” says Mr Leon van den Heever, Director of the Centre for
Prospective Students (CPS). "As a result of the partnership, these
schools have become important feeder-schools for the university; they
provide numerous candidates for tertiary study at the University and
elsewhere,” he adds.
The schools are Belhar Secondary, Bernadino Heights Secondary,
Cloetesville Secondary, Eerste River Secondary, Gordon High School,
Kasselsvlei Secondary, Kayamandi Secondary, Klein Nederburg Secondary,
Kylemore Secondary, Lückhoff Secondary, Malibu Secondary, New Orleans
Secondary, Noorder Paarl High School, Paulus Joubert Secondary, Sarepta
Secondary, Schoonspruit Secondary and Stellenzicht Secondary.
In 2005 and 2006 these schools provided about 20% of the total number of registered coloured first-year students at the US.
Various faculties and divisions are closely involved in schools,
including the faculties of Engineering, Natural Sciences, Health
Sciences and Arts and Social Sciences. The Institute for Mathematics
and Science Teaching (IMSTUS), SunZone, the TRAC Schools Centre and
SunStep are some of the divisions that are involved.
Some of the projects are presented at the schools while others require learners to visit the campus.
The programme ranges from holiday schools in mathematics, science,
language and culture (including the by now well known Words Open Worlds
project at the Woordfees and talks by authors), career and subject
choice counselling, general counselling, information on Stellenbosch
University, open days, holiday schools, as well as a bursary project.
One of the challenges is finding funding for the project, says Ms
Celeste Nel, senior advisor at CPS. "Currently the projects are being
funded from the internal budgets of the respective faculties,
departments and service units, but external funding will enable the
University to play an even more significant role at these schools.”
And, judged by the feedback, there is definitely a need for this
service. As one of the learners said: "This university sees a part of
me that will allow me to fulfil my dreams ...”
• Contact Celeste Nel at 021 808 4327 or at cswan@sun.ac.za for more information.
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