Sign up kids for this challenge

LIMPOPO – IN an effort to improve science and mathematics results, FMCG giant Unilever and 197 Spar stores countrywide have embarked on a national roadshow to empower South Africa’s young people through education as the Omo Spar Schools Challenge 2015 officially opens.

Currently in its ninth year, 450 primary schools in Limpopo, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and North West will be targeted with the initiative to help promote child development and proficiency in mathematics and science.

South Africa’s mathematics and science education quality was ranked as the worst in the world by the World Economic Forum’s Global Information Technology Report 2015.

To help address the critical skills gap, the top 150 schools with the highest number of entries will each receive mini portable science laboratories and prizes to the value of R1,3 million. The winning school’s science teacher will benefit from a one-day training programme on how to operate the mini science laboratories and how to make science experiments relevant to a participating grade.

A training manual will be provided for support and teachers will have the opportunity to physically conduct experiments during the training session.

“As a serious contributor to improving education in our local communities, we pride ourselves in helping learners to broaden their life skills and improve their basic maths foundation,” said Andrew Mysell, Omo marketing manager.

Fast Kids Maths forms an integral part of the initiative and is an interactive online learning platform for cell phones, tablet devices and desktop browsers that seeks to expose children aged from seven to university entrance to the foundations of mathematics.

“Since launching Fast Kids Maths, we have witnessed an increased adoption of the application as a medium through which learners effectively engage in lessons in an innovative, informative and entertaining manner. Parents, teachers, and the public and private sector alike have a responsibility towards preparing children, our nation’s most prized asset, for a brighter future. Increased exposure to vital resources to enhance the competencies of our children will ensure their readiness for the challenges of life,” said Andrew.

The Fast Kids Maths platform is designed to cater for various levels of educational experience and mathematical aptitude.

Learners are able to practise their mathematical skills through various exercises including number bonds, timetables and general arithmetic in the comfort and safety of their homes.

An added benefit is that it caters for various other subjects and learning material.

A virtual reward mechanism is used to encourage regular engagement among users.

As the child practises mathematics, tokens are earned and can be used to gain special rewards including ice cream and meal vouchers courtesy of Unilever.

On signing up at www.omo.co.za/fastkids, access to the application for the first 30 days is free. For more free access, specially marked Omo packs can be purchased for additional access tokens.

Parents have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the future of their children by following three easy steps to participate in the 2015 Omo Spar Schools Challenge:

1. Purchase either a 2kg or 3kg Omo hand washing powder or a 750ml or 1.5 litre Omo hand wash liquid pack at any of the 197 participating Spar outlets nationally.

2. Upon purchase, write the name of your nominated community primary school, name and cell phone number on a till slip.

3. Place the till slip into an entry box provided at the participating Spar store.

Unilever encourages interested participants to make as many Omo product purchases as possible from participating Spar stores over June, July and August 2015 to increase their chances of winning.

Winners will be announced at a hand-over ceremony to take place in October 2015.

For more information on the 2015 OMO Spar Schools Challenge call 0860 572 908, email consumer.affairs-za@unilever.comor visit www.omo.co.za