The Vodacom Schools of Excellence Achieves Great Matric Results Against All Odds

As we commemorate Human Rights Month, we reflect on one of the rights we continue to fight for – the Right to Education. Robust quality education is the foundation for South Africa’s future. It leads to job creation, a stronger economy and a brighter future for our youth.

The South African public education system has faced the greatest of challenges during 2020, with millions of learners and their teachers deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown.

The Vodacom Foundation responded to this devastation through a virtual tutoring programme, where 38 employees signed up to tutor 58 Grade 12 learners, in the Vodacom Schools of Excellence.

These are a selection of 12 out of 3 000 schools from across the country, that Vodacom has supported with Information Communication Technologies (ICT).

Employee volunteering and virtual tutoring have become an essential part of Vodacom’s response to the need for continued learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and the light of their Matric Class of 2020 has shone brightly throughout the year. The road ahead is filled with endless possibilities.

Has the virtual tutoring helped you improve your academic results?

91.7% of learners said that their academic performance has improved since the virtual tutoring started and Mavhungu Raphul from Maneledzi Secondary School in Limpopo achieved 7 Distinctions.

Learners were asked, what subjects they were tutored on and what were the results obtained?

• My overall performance increased by 20%, this was through tutoring.
• Business studies and Maths Literacy, I achieved 70% in September
• Life Science increased from 40% to 60% so the tutor was really helpful. And she had the enthusiasm.
• Mathematics improved to 56%
• I got 54% in Mathematics for term 1 and after being paired with a tutor I got 68%. The virtual tutoring really worked for me.
• Accounting I was getting 40% but September I got 60% and my last results I got 70%

"I am filled with so much excitement and so much joy that I passed matric with 7 distinctions and I am so eager for the future. 2020 was a tough year to matriculate in. I would not have been able to do that without the support of my teachers and above all my tutor and the data I received from Vodacom." Mavhungu Raphulu, Maneledzi Secondary School in Limpopo

“In this time of crisis, our contributions can make a lasting difference. Though COVID- 19 has isolated us as social beings, we as Vodacom Employees must shine our values at this difficult hour. Being a virtual tutor has really inspired me, especially the conversations I’ve had with all the learners I’m tutoring. Volunteering does make a huge difference, let’s find ways to lend a virtual hand to get through this! This is a time when we all can be a true force for good “ Louandra Arjunan, Vodacom Foundation.