Sol Plaatje University (SPU) is on a mission to inspire young people to become agents of change. As one of the newest universities in the country, SPU is competing fiercely to establish the Northern Cape as a preferred destination for higher education. To achieve this goal, SPU offers exciting programmes that attract students from the region.
From 3 to 6 April 2023, SPU hosted the Talent Pipeline Program (TPP) Autumn Hybrid Sessions for Grade 11 and 12 learners. The sessions focused on Maths and Science, and were attended by 114 learners in total. 65 learners from high schools in Kimberley, Boresetse High School in Barkly West, and Kgomotso High School in Pampierstad attended the sessions on campus, while 49 learners joined virtually from their respective schools in the Frances Baard, Namakwa, ZF Mgcawu and Pixley Ka Seme districts.
The TPP is a pre-university enrichment programme that prepares learners academically, socially, and psychosocially for higher education. The programme, launched in October 2021, offers sessions during school holidays (one week in March, two weeks in June and one week in September). This year’s first TPP sessions were in a hybrid format where some learners attended in person and others online.
The sessions focused on Maths and Science, and the curriculum was delivered in both English and Afrikaans. The TPP Autumn Sessions offered the learners an opportunity to learn and engage with passionate educators who are determined to making Maths and Science appealing to learners. This vision is aligned with SPU’s intention to advance access to Maths and Science and remove myths around these subjects.
In addition to the Maths and Science sessions, the learners had opportunities to engage in mentor-mentee discussions. These sessions provided learners with a platform to share with their mentors any challenges they were facing, discuss their schoolwork, provide feedback on the programme, and receive encouragement and motivation from their mentors. After classes, mentors and learners had dance or exercise sessions to unwind and have fun.
The next TPP sessions will take place in June, accommodating all TPP learners on campus.
This programme is proving to be a catalyst for change in the Northern Cape community, along with other great projects at SPU.
The TPP team looks forward to further advising and empowering learners to reimagine their future, regardless of their current circumstances.
