Educational support

Today, because of the unjust apartheid education system:

86% of black South Africans have not completed secondary schooling. (This is in comparison to 35% of white South African, and 60% of Asian origin).

24% of people over 15 are illiterate in South Africa

70% of men in their 40s are unemployed because they are educated only for manual work. Skilled workers are in short supply so training programmes are essential

Only 3% of black South Africans who reach tertiary education actually graduate from university. The large gap between the standard of learning required for matric, the exam taken on leaving school, and that expected at universities is a key factor.

(Statistics from a 2006 study by the South African Department of Education)

Think about it...

The poor education resulting from apartheid affects both young and old. If you went to a township school in 1963, today you would be aged 44. You, and at least 60% of your classmates would, today, be illiterate, because of the inferior education. Even reading a newspaper or medicine bottle would be a problem for you.

Primary education

BST supports pre-school and primary education  because we believe that a good start in life depends on the quality of education available. Most of our pre-school work is linked to HIV-AIDS care projects because of the levels of disadvantage among children affected by the disease. Levels of education are also proved to impact on people’s vulnerability to HIV-AIDS – a good job gives hope and means overcoming poverty – these are critical if the HIV pandemic is to be managed.

Primary and pre-schools currently supported by the Bishop Simeon Trust:

	Daggakraal
	Wesselton
	Leth'ithemba
	Mayflower
	Tsepho Hope
	Kwaza Centre (formerly Daggafontein Primary School)

Secondary & tertiary education

We work with a number of secondary and tertiary educational establishments. Bursaries are given to enable young people to continue their education, enabling those with potential but no money to keep learning. As well as this we give funds to carefully chosen institutions.

Secondary & tertiary education currently supported by the Bishop Simeon Trust:

	CIDA City Campus
	Highveld Board – Education Fund
	St Edna’s Secondary School
	Wits University

Adult education and training

Apartheid has left many adults in South Africa without the education they need to get well-paid jobs which will allow them to escape from poverty. Adult training and educational support are therefore priorities of the Trust in seeking to redress the injustices of apartheid. Adult literacy classes enable adults previously deprived of learning, to write and read for the first time in their lives; while computer courses give everyone access to the vital tools of IT.

Adult education and training currently supported by the Bishop Simeon Trust:

	AWIDE (African Women in Developing Economies) - developing womens' leadership, entrepreneurial, and project management skills
	Penreach - teacher training
	Tecford Training and Employment Centre for the Disabled
	Trevor Huddleston CR Memorial Centre - computer classes, career guidance.

Why is education in South Africa so important?

Tricia Sibbons

Vice-Chair, Bishop Simeon Trust

Listen to a video of Tricia explaining how the Bishop Simeon Trust has helped with education for South Africans over the years, and why education is still so important in South Africa today.

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(the video is in Windows Media format)

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