This pilot project, developed in partnership with Tuta-Me (an online learning platform by Optimi Workplace) and Odin Education (an ed-tech solution developed by Jendamark), will offer online tutoring and support in mathematics to 1 000 learners in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Focusing its efforts on Grades 10, 11 and 12 learners at seven local schools, the three-year pilot project is aimed at ultimately increasing the number of learners who achieve a university pass in maths at matric level and to expand the impact of VWSA’s educational initiatives in the Eastern Cape.

The project will provide supplementary online learning support from Tuta-Me. This will include a weekly live online tutoring session by qualified maths teachers and a 24/7 Ask-a-Tutor service, as well as access to online resources such as lesson material, guides, quizzes and past exam papers. The teachers and tutors involved in the project are also trained by Optimi Workplace.

“Tuta-Me by Optimi Workplace is a dynamic and accessible offering that assists high school learners reach their potential through dedicated online and face-to-face tutoring options. First established in 2015, corporates across the country have partnered with us to ensure that high school learners have access to quality tutoring in order to achieve the results needed for postgraduate studies,” says Phemelo Segoe, Client Manager of Tuta-Me at Optimi Workplace.

Of the 1 000 learners who will benefit from the programme, 200 of them will be given access to the platform through the Omang device, a secure e-learning tablet supplied by Odin Education, while the remaining 800 will use their own mobile devices to access the offering.

“Empowering the youth through access to strong, consistent education is a critical priority for VWSA,” said Nonkqubela Maliza, Director for Corporate and Government Affairs at VWSA.

“This pilot project is an ambitious expansion of our investment in education and the communities in which we operate and the communities where our employees live. We hope this project will go a long way towards helping the learners to achieve good maths results, which will give them the opportunity to pursue their studies at tertiary institutions.”