Learners knuckle down for success this holiday

As a key stakeholder with a vested interest in improving the quality of education in the country, SAICA’s Development Camps aim to grow the pipeline of disadvantaged African and coloured learners who are eligible to study towards study the professions of high demand.

Robert Zwane, SAICA’s Senior Executive: National Projects, explains: ‘The major hurdle that the accounting profession faces, along with other professions of high demand (or scarce-skills professions), is the low number of learners (just 13%) passing maths with marks above 60%. Despite this, the profession has been successful in sustaining its pipeline – as one in five matrics who attain 60% or more in mathematics and pursue tertiary education choose the CA route. This is directly linked to the success of Thuthuka’s school projects including our annual Development Camps. And while not every learner who participates in these programmes seeks to become a CA(SA), Thuthuka’s desire is to grow these initiatives – irrespective of the professions learners wish to pursue – with the view to create a pool of learners for all these scarce-skills professions.’

Working in partnership with the provincial departments of education, members of the accounting profession, universities’ representatives, and institutions, the week-long SAICA Development Camps provide extra lessons to improve learners’ performance in mathematics, science, accounting and English. Learners are also offered life skills training and career information to help them make wise and appropriate career choices.’

Indeed, the benefits of the camps extend beyond the immediate goal of improving academic performance. They also awaken children to their own personal potential.

‘Year after year, the National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric exam results reveal that participants in these interventions have an advantage over their peers going into their final exams. For example, the 2018 matric results reveal success stories like Simphiwe Ngewu, a matric learner from Khayolwethu Secondary School in the Western Cape who received an award for ‘Excellent achievement across the province’ after he amassed an impressive seven distinctions in the 2018 National Senior Certificate exams. This includes achievements of 90% and more in five subjects,’ adds Zwane.

This year, more than 2 500 learners with an aptitude for mathematics have been invited to spend a week of their school holidays at the SAICA Development Camps. These camps will be held in:

Members of the accounting profession or representatives of the media who wish to visit the camps to see exactly how things work and interact with the remarkable learners who attend them, may contact Karin Jacobsen on 011 621 6913 (email: ***@saica.co.za) to arrange a visit.

In accordance with SAICA’s mandate to transform the demographics of the chartered accountancy profession to reflect the demographics of the country, SAICA works with the provincial departments of education to select learners from disadvantaged areas to attend the SAICA Development Camps. Learners are selected based on academic performance: they must have scored a minimum of 60% in mathematics and English. These learners receive assistance intended to help them produce high quality matric passes and set them on the path to study towards key professions of high demand.

The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), South Africa’s pre-eminent accountancy body, is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading accounting institutes. The Institute provides a wide range of support services to more than 40 000 members who are chartered accountants [CAs(SA)] and hold positions as CEOs, MDs, board directors, business owners, chief financial officers, auditors and leaders in their spheres of business operation. Most of these members operate in commerce and industry, and play a significant role in the nation’s highly dynamic business sector and economic development.

One of SAICA’s prime goals is to contribute towards strengthening the country’s economy by playing a significant and leading role in transformation and skills development. The Thuthuka Education Upliftment Project, a pioneering initiative to promote transformation in the profession, was launched in the Eastern Cape in 2002 and has grown into a national project.

Thuthuka’s objective is to transform the demographics of the profession to reflect those of the country in terms of race and gender, and provide educational support to African learners and students for the benefit of the profession, while simultaneously helping to uplift communities. Therefore, SAICA prides itself in leading the chartered accountancy profession as a socially responsible driver of business and skills development by supporting and encouraging enterprise development initiatives.

Ms Karin Jacobsen

Project Manager: Marketing and Communications

SAICA Nation Building Division

Tel: ‪011 621 6913

Email: karinj@saica.co.za

Mr Kulani Chauke

Corporate Communications Co-Ordinator, Marketing & Communications (SAICA)

Tel: 011 479 0698

Email: kulanic@saica.co.za