Ma Se Kind NPC tackles teacher shortage and STEM crisis in Cape Flats

Ma Se Kind non-profit company (NPC) aims to train 120 teachers in four years to tackle South Africa’s declining interest in mathematics and science.

A newly founded organisation, Ma Se Kind NPC, aims to support aspiring teachers who cannot afford training on their own. The initiative focuses on students from underprivileged communities, equipping them to become qualified teachers while gaining practical classroom experience from day one.

The name Ma Se Kind reflects its philosophy: “I am my mother’s child, and your child is my child,” symbolising guidance, care, and community, said Neill Pleaner, founder and chairperson of the NPC.

He told the Plainsman he noticed a missing link between teachers, pupils, and academics. 

Literacy and mathematics are particularly worrying, he said. “A Grade 1 teacher often has to manage over 50 children in a class,” he said. Overcrowded classrooms mean student teachers are often the only extra support, yet even they are not enough."

Ma Se Kind NPC has developed a programme through the Two Oceans Graduate Institute, where students study via distance learning while teaching.

Applicants must be 18 to 24, have a matric, and a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). They are screened through psychometric tests and interviews to ensure they are ready for the programme.

The first intake launches in January next year, with applications opening at the end of November.

Over four years, 120 student teachers are expected to graduate, and the programme hopes to encourage further studies, said the NPC's operational director, Robertha le Roux. 

“While they’re learning, they also teach. By the time they graduate, they already have practical experience,” Mr Pleaner said.

Mr Pleaner has a long history in education, including founding Beaulieu Preparatory School and Kyalami Preparatory Primary School in Johannesburg. 

“I cried when Claude (Le Roux, chief technology) said they won’t have engineers coming from Mitchell’s Plain due to the lack of interest in pure maths and science. They are not taught the basics of math in primary school,” he said.

Mr le Roux said they aim to take 30 students a year through the programme, covering tuition, stipends, transport, uniforms, and medical aid. Students are mentored by psychologists and staff to prevent dropout and ensure success. 

Mr Le Roux said: “They start helping in classrooms from day one, gaining experience while studying.”

The NPC aims to change the narrative in Mitchell’s Plain, creating opportunities where violence and gangsterism have dominated. “Through education, we can uplift communities and create an environment where people thrive and grow,” Mr Pleaner said.

For more information, email support@masekind.org.za or call 087 138 5024.