Minerva Secondary School learners Mpe Mosema and Boikanyo Mokoena display some of the STEM dictionaries donated to the school. With them on right is Gauteng Department of Education chief director Dennis Makwakwa. Photo: Sipho Siso

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Learners at Minerva Secondary School in Alexandra will have no excuses at all not to attain distinctions especially in their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. This follows a donation of 800 STEM dictionaries to the school on March 18 worth more than R600 000 by engineering firm, ABB South Africa in collaboration with EduFeArn Foundation, as part of a pioneering mathematics intervention programme for schools in underserved communities, which is designed to enhance the mathematical and science understanding of Grade 8 to 12 learners by equipping them with the skills necessary for academic success and future careers in the STEM fields.
Highlighting the importance of investing in education and empowering the next generation of learners, ABB South Africa corporate social responsibility manager Cynthia Khoali said the project is a long-term commitment to support learners, particularly in mathematics, a subject she said serves as a gateway to numerous career opportunities. “The Minerva gesture demonstrates a commitment from ABB to see future engineers in the company coming from Alexandra,” she said. Khoali said the initiative was not merely about providing resources but about creating an environment where learners can thrive academically and build the confidence they need to excel in their studies. Last year or so, ABB hosted various learners from Minerva and other township schools in Johannesburg’s Thembisa and KwaThema in career opportunities available within the company and Khoali said the STEM dictionaries donation was part of the company’s desire to build learners’ capacity to excel in STEM subjects in the hope of being absorbed by ABB. EduFeArn business development manager Kholisile Khumalo said the STEM dictionaries will go a long way for many learners in township schools who are required to write exams in English despite it not being their first language, saying they often struggle to interpret complex terms correctly. Gauteng Department of Education’s chief director Dennis Makwakwa appealed for a strong memorandum of understanding between the department and ABB and EduFeArn that could be used to benefit a lot more of the schools in the Gauteng province to help learners to attain their best at matric, especially in the STEM subjects that are commonly considered as difficult.

ABB South Africa, Gauteng Department of Education staffers, and Minerva Secondary School teachers pose for a group picture soon after the donation proceedings. Photo: Sipho Siso

Corporate social responsibility manager at ABB South Africa Cynthia Khoali faces the press soon after the donation of the STEM dictionaries. Photo: Sipho Siso