Better education for a brighter future
Changing lives through education and breaking the poverty cycle in South Africa
Bright Start provides education sponsorships and learning interventions to address the education crisis in South Africa.
The Challenge of Education in South Africa
Education is the cornerstone of any successful society on which we build communities, economies, and futures. Yet, in South Africa, this foundation is crumbling.
Hindered by inequity, high dropout rates, unemployment crisis, South Africa rates 50th out of 63 countries in education and training and 107 out of 141 in global skills readiness. (IMD – Institute for Management and Development, 2023)
The most unequal education system in the world, the shadow of South Africa’s apartheid era still hinders economic growth. 5.5 percent of South African school children attend independent schools compared to global averages of 19 percent (primary school) and 27 percent (secondary school).
Amnesty International. (Broken & Unequal, 2020)
Statistics paint the picture
LOW PASS RATES
pass high school
LITERACY RATE
10 yr olds can't read for meaning
Only 3% of grade 9s (13 – 14yrs) score over 50% in mathematics
SOUTH AFRICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Bright Start seeks to address the education crisis in South Africa by providing access to quality education for children living in under resourced communities through 2 interventions:
Sponsorship Programme
Individual sponsorships to send children to quality schools
Bright Start connects sponsors with children living in the local townships of Hangberg and Imizamu Yethu in Hout Bay, South Africa
Need addressed: Equal education at quality schools
Tutor Programme
Learning Support for Maths and English for children at risk of dropping out of school.
Bright Start runs a targeted intervention program at a partner school. We work closely with teachers who identify individual learning gaps and with tutors working in small groups.
This programme has received remarkable outcomes averaging around 15-20% improvement in Maths and English.
A well-functioning basic education system is crucial for fostering the skills of South Africa’s next generation and driving inclusive growth,”
Satu Kahkonen, World Bank Country Director for South Africa.