Programmes
Our Track Record
Over 35 000 students and teachers have been through PROTEC programmes in our 42-year history, and a large number of our alumni embarked on science, engineering and technology tertiary studies and are gainfully employed within STEM sectors.
Class of 2023 Matric Results
Our Programmes and Activities
The PROTEC Learner Excellence Programme spans 12 years. The initial focus is on the three final years of high school (FET), followed by the post-school phase of four years of tertiary education, and a further three years following entry into the work environment. Throughout these various phases, PROTEC has designed programmes to assist the students to succeed. Monitoring and evaluation is conducted throughout the PROTEC programme.
The PROTEC Learner Excellence Model
Three phases in the 10-year programme
School phase
Post School Phase
School phase
Initial three years of grades 10-12 (FET). Extra tuition in:
- Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
- English
- World of Work
Through:
- Saturday classes
- Vacation School
- E-learning
Post School Phase
Covers four years at tertiary institution with:
- Orientation camps
- Workshops
- Mentorship programmes
World of work phase
Results
World of work phase
Covers the first three years in the working world:
- Meeting potential employers
- Workshops
- Mentorships
- Induction into the PROTEC Alumni
Results
- Increased number of STEM graduates
- Increased pool of STEM skills
The Hybrid Learner Excellence Model – School Phase
Learner Selection Process
Criteria for selection into the programme:
- Achieve 50% and above in the PROTEC-designed selection test
- Have both Physical Sciences and Mathematics as school subjects
PROTEC conducts a baseline study or pre-test to determine which areas of the curriculum students regard as problematic. In addition, students’ performance in the final exams for the previous three years in Mathematics and Sciences are analysed.
30 Sessions
Students gather at a centre school each Saturday for extra Sciences, Mathematics, English and World-of Work lessons. PROTEC World of Work includes leadership, interpersonal skills development, and career development. PROTEC identifies learners who have potential and assists them to overcome educational and other obstacles that may prevent them from successfully entering the world of work. These obstacles can be a lack of a proper basic education at school, poverty, lack of successful role models, attitudes, unrealistic expectations, different cultural values, and language barriers. This component of the PROTEC model plays a vital role in preventing students with potential from becoming career casualties as a result of these obstacles.
Vacation School classes: (15 days per year)
Students gather at a centre school for five days during three vacation periods to do practical and theoretical work based on the scientific/ technological theme selected for the Vacation School programme. Themes are based on different industries, such as engineering sectors, accounting, transport, communications, manufacturing and others.
Work experience (three days per year)
The programme assists students with the realities of the work environment and assisting in career choices, where available.
Extra features
The school phase includes additional features such as parent/teacher support, the provision of educational materials, computer training, participation in inter-school events, workshops, career guidance, and work exposure.
The Hybrid Learner Excellence Model – Post-School Phase
The post-school phase starts with an orientation programme that bridges the gap between the school and tertiary phases. The programme is designed to reduce the massive dropout rate of first-year students who are not equipped to make the transition. The second part is a mentorship programme that assists learners with the vast array of problems encountered in tertiary life. These mentors are drawn from the PROTEC Alumni and are trained as mentors. Also included is training placement assistance, skills workshops, sourcing study and career opportunities, career counselling, as well as mentorship and support.
Entry into the world of work
Students are equipped with skills and techniques to help them with entry into the world of work and meeting the expectations of the work environment.
The PROTEC Teacher Development Model
The programmes ensure that teachers are competent in all three FET grades:
In-person workshops, Virtual workshops, School support visits
- Teachers are assessed and areas of weakness analysed
- Workshops are tailored to requirements based on assessment results
- Workshops are in-person and virtual
- School support visits ensure that lessons learnt are put into practice
PROTEC Teacher Support Programme
Developing Teachers
PROTEC delivers the following primary interventions:
- Three centre-based teacher training workshops during 12 days per year per subject (36 days total) are conducted. The workshops focus on relevant topics relating to curriculum content in Mathematics, Science and English (grades 10-12) and prepare teachers to deliver these topics in class.
- A programme of three classroom-based support visits per teacher per year are provided including school-based quality assurance and regular monitoring. The programme of school visits is broken down into pre-lesson discussions on planning and preparation and post-lesson feedback discussions to ensure development for the teacher.
Our project model uses a centre-based and classroom support approach as this has proven over the past 13 years, to be the most effective and efficient approach that impacts positively on the professional practices of teachers, and on student achievement.
Further training and support on the use of science equipment and mathematics kits are provided as an integral part of the school support visits. Facilitation of the use of pace setters and learning programmes, work schedules and lesson plans within the teaching of Mathematics, Science and English in the project schools is encouraged.
Monitoring and evaluation
Carefully structured and stringent monitoring and evaluation is conducted throughout the different phases of PROTEC’s programmes.
Alumni involvement
PROTEC Alumni in the working world are encouraged to participate in the ongoing PROTEC programme through networking, mentoring, and finding ways to give back to PROTEC students. We maintain our Alumni database to ensure previous members are updated accordingly of new developments at PROTEC. Alumni that are not on our database, are welcome to make contact with PROTEC.
About us
PROTEC is a leading South African non-profit organisation, operating nationally in the field of STEM education since 1982.
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Contact
Suite 4 & 5, The Ferns Office Park, 364 Pretoria Avenue, Ferndale, Randburg, 2160.
Support
Our donors make the difference. Their partnership with an NPO with a proven track record means that their contributions impact the lives of our future leaders.
