The educational programme, which is aimed at helping disadvantaged matric pupils across the country prepare for the final exams, saw an address from various partners and the introduction of celebrities such as DJ Sbu and Boity Thulo who are ambassadors for this year’s edition of the campaign.
Also present at the relaunch was director: further education and training curriculum co-ordination of the Gauteng Department of Basic Education, Don Haripersad, who gave a keynote address.
Haripersad spoke of the need to make education a societal issue and something that pupils can get excited about. “The focus should be on addressing critical learning areas such as maths and science, but in an exciting way that pupils can relate to,” he said.
He also urged pupils to commit to such programmes, adding that while investing in such initiatives was worthwhile, it could only yield results if pupils committed to it.
Marketing director at Primestars, Martin Sweet also spoke of the importance of committing to education and the need to see it prosper.
He highlighted the dramatic shortage of science and maths in the country, saying that the two remain a necessity for the exposure to certain skills.
“Maths and science are the spinal cord of areas such as engineering and accounting and it is important to encourage more and more pupils to take these subjects,” he said. Sweet also spoke about the programme itself, saying it motivated pupils to work harder and made learning easier through the use of edutainment. Furthermore, the use of cinemas to teach pupils means that pupils receive equal learning experiences and it creates a community of maths and science between disadvantaged and privileged pupils.
The EduCate campaign relaunch took place on 13 August at Montecasino and the official cinema launch will take place on 23 August at The Zone in Rosebank.
Details: For more information, visit www.primedia-unlimited.co.za
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