The SciMathUS class of 2015 achieved an average of 72% for Mathematics and Physical Sciences in last year's National Senior Certificate exam.
Twenty percent of the class earned distinctions in these two subjects with students' performance increasing with 16 percentage points on average after attending the program.
SciMathUS (Science & Mathematics at Stellenbosch University) is a university preparation program hosted by Stellenbosch University 's Centre for Pedagogy (SUNCEP) in the Faculty of Education.
It offers students from educationally disadvantaged circumstances a second chance to improve their matric results and qualify for admission to higher education. In this year-long program, students can improve their NSC marks in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. They can also choose to follow Accounting and Introduction to Economics at the university.
In 2015, the biggest improvement was 41 percentage points in Mathematics and 39 percentage points in Physical Sciences. The top performer scored more than 90% in both Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
With this new improved results, students can re-apply for admission at any tertiary institution. Most students of the 2015 group have chosen to study at Stellenbosch University.
"Success is within reach of everyone willing to work hard," said Dr Trevor van Louw, director of SUNSEP.
"This group's performance if evidence of that. Furthermore, we celebrated the success of 23 former SciMathUS students who graduated at this university in December 2015. Amongst them were medical doctors, teachers, accountants, physiotherapists and speech therapists, to name but a few.
"They are now part of the more than 150 students who attended this programme since 2001 and who graduated successfully. Two of them have already graduated with doctorates and a number of them with Masters degrees or other postgraduate qualifications."
Who may apply?
2014 and 2015 matriculants who do not meet the admission requirements for higher education may now apply for admission to the program in 2016. Applicants should have passed Grade 12 with an average of 60% and should have passed Mathematics and/or Physical Sciences with at least 45%.
Students have class every day from 08:00 to 16:30 . Besides the academic programme, student do Academic literacy and develop thinking and computer skills. Students also learn to take responsibility for their own learning, how to work independently and the value of time management as a student.
The closing date for applications is 22 January 2016. The online application form is available at www.sun.ac.za/suncep Follow the link on that page.
Prospective applicants can also access more information about the program's facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SciMathus Alternatively call us at 021 8082301 or 021 8083032.
Photograph: Dr Trevor van Louw, Director of SUNCEP (far left) with some of the SciMathUS top achievers Unarine Lefosa, Mbalentle Jack, Lionel Appel and Naadirah Shaik at a awards function held in 2015. Next to them are Ms Elza Lourens, Facilitator in Physical Sciences (far right).
