University graduates and professionals in their fields are determined to help high school pupils succeed by preparing them for their tertiary studies.
SilverStream Tutoring, which hails from Heideveld, has partnered with the Anglican Church Christ, The Reconciler, in Matterhorn Crescent, where they will tutor, mentor and encourage high school pupils to reach their full potential.
They are focused on teaching mathematics and maths literacy, with plans to expand to physical sciences and life sciences.
They met with pupils and their parents on Saturday September 17.
Tafelsig parent Beverley Moffert met the group at the base in Heideveld, where she takes her teen daughter.
“I engaged with them and asked that they teach in Mitchell’s Plain,” she said.
Ms Moffert is also the principal of Mont Blanc Education, Skills and Etiquette Centre in Tafelsig, aiding adults to complete their matric.
She said it was a struggle to find tuition close to home.
Tutor Dr Lindsay Wilson said in primary school he was in remedial classes.
“People have this stigma of saying my child is struggling. You should never feel ashamed that your child needs help.
“I got through high school. Got to varsity. Worked really hard. Got scholarships and fellowships to cover my studies because my parents did not have money for studies,” he said.
He encouraged parents to acknowledge their children need help and do something about it.
“There is a lot of growth in learning or acknowledging where you struggle, where your struggle areas are. Once you acknowledge it then you can get the help,” he said.
Dr Marvin Jansen, a founding member of the programme and who is the director of the University of Cape Town Clinical Skills Centre, said: “Education drastically changed my life”.
“Mathematics and physics are subjects that can give you a great headstart in life.
“Our goal is for you to graduate from university,” he said.
Dr Jansen said it was a mentorship programme, including ice breakers and practices to help build skills that students need to be successful at university.
He said top academic pupils get into the health sciences programme but their first year drop out rate is “very high”.
“They drop out because many of them do not have some social skills of being able to ask a question, having the courage to speak up, being able to talk in a group. These are crucial skills needed in university which we need to equip you with during this programme,” said Dr Jansen.
Nabewieyah van der Fort, from Woodlands, has been tutoring pupils since 2019.
“I got into tutoring because when I was in matric, I couldn’t afford extra classes. That time it was R150 an hour. I felt like I needed to give back and started tutoring in first year university,” she said.
Pupils and parents were given a run through of the programme, including their responsibilities.
These classes will be held weekly at the church hall at a nominal fee.
For more information visit their www.silverstreamtutoring.com/meet-our-team or their Facebook page silverstreamtutoring.
