Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube addressed attendees at the launch of the Primestars EduCate Programme. The Deputy Minister highlighted the importance of partnerships between government and the private sector in preparing young people for future careers.
The Deputy Minister emphasised the role of STEM education in South Africa's economic development and skills pipeline.
What Is The Primestars EduCate Programme?
The Primestars EduCate Programme is one of South Africa's largest academic support initiatives for Grade 12 learners. Since its launch in 2011, the programme has helped thousands of Matric learners improve their Mathematics and Physical Sciences results through free, high-quality revision classes.
The initiative is supported by the Department of Basic Education, corporate partners and other stakeholders, with a particular focus on assisting learners from under-resourced schools across South Africa.
Helping Matric Learners Prepare For Final Exams
The EduCate Programme is designed to help learners prepare for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations through structured revision sessions covering the full CAPS Mathematics and Physical Sciences curriculum.
Rather than relying on traditional extra lessons, the programme uses an innovative "edutainment" approach that combines classroom learning with engaging multimedia presentations. Many sessions are hosted in cinemas, known as "Theatres of Learning", while learners in communities without cinema access participate through school-based outreach programmes using mobile learning equipment.
What Learners Receive
The programme offers Grade 12 learners comprehensive academic support through ten structured revision sessions delivered over several weeks. These include five dedicated Mathematics revision lessons and five Physical Sciences revision lessons presented by experienced subject specialists.
Learners receive comprehensive coverage of the Grade 12 CAPS curriculum before their final examinations while also having opportunities to interact with educators and ask questions on challenging topics.
Free Study Resources For Matric Learners
A major benefit of the programme is that learners receive study materials at no cost.
These resources include Mathematics and Physical Sciences revision workbooks, past examination papers, fully worked solutions, detailed explanations and additional revision material to support exam preparation.
Digital Learning Beyond The Classroom
Primestars has also expanded its support through Primestars Digital, enabling learners to continue revising online outside of scheduled classes.
The digital platform offers Grade 12 Mathematics and Physical Sciences tutorials, CAPS-aligned learning content and revision resources that can be accessed from mobile phones, tablets and computers. In many cases, learners can also benefit from zero-rated access through participating mobile network providers, helping to reduce data costs.
Who Can Join The EduCate Programme?
The programme is aimed primarily at Grade 12 learners attending public schools, particularly those in rural, township and under-resourced communities who require additional support in Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
Operating across all nine provinces, the Primestars EduCate Programme provides thousands of South African Matric learners with access to quality revision support each year, helping them improve their academic performance and strengthen their opportunities for university admission and careers in STEM-related fields.
Click here for more details about EduCate.
