The Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, is pleased to report that the Department of Community Safety has been providing a safe space for study to 60 grade 12 learners from schools in Hanover Park to prepare for the 2021 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
The purpose of the programme is to ensure that learners are able to study in a safe environment in which they can concentrate on their studies, and that they are not affected by the many challenges which they face at home.
The programme includes a structured schedule that includes study sessions and tutoring, as well as psycho-social support when necessary. Educators, volunteer tutors, and youth development coaches have served as facilitators. The study support programme has been held at the Chrysalis Academy since 25 October 2021, and will conclude on 1 December 2021.
Students from Groenvlei High School, Crystal Secondary School and Mountview High School have been selected to take part in the programme. Health and safety protocols have been put in place to ensure that safety of the learners and staff.
Minister Fritz said, “the study support program was established to ensure that learners who are most at risk of not being able to write or complete their exams due to high criminal activity in their communities are considered for the programme. We also took into account those who are dealing with socioeconomic difficulties as well as family or personal challenges.”
Minister Fritz continued, “what we would really like to do is to be able to offer this kind of programme to all learners in crime hotspot areas, and so the challenge at the moment is to scale the programme. We will therefore be engaging partners from various sectors to see how we offer the programme to many more learners. But in terms of this group, we have been very happy with the impact we have been able to foster in the lives of these young people.”
Minister Fritz continued, “I would like to thank all of our staff who have been so instrumental in making this project happen. I would like to thank our partners, the Chrysalis Academy, for availing their beautiful campus and for being ever-willing to assist us. I would like to thank the parents and families of the learners, as well as the teachers and staff of the various schools, for believing in the learners and giving them the necessary support over this time. And most of all, I would like to thank our awesome young people who have taken this opportunity. I hope that it made the difference for you, because that is ultimately why we are doing this: so that each of you can have the opportunity to get your best possible results. I wish you well for the future.”
