SSP featured in the Sowetan

15.07.10

SSP was recently featured in an article in the Sowetan:

Decent education for the poor

07 July 2010
Namhla Tshisela

James Rapoone's dream to attend a prestigious school in Johannesburg would have remained a pipe dream were it not for a programme that sponsors education of pupils from poor backgrounds.
The son of a single parent, Rapoone said the Student Sponsorship Programme helped him realise his dream of a decent education at King Edward VII School.

“The sponsorship proved to be of great assistance, especially for my single mother who had to ensure that her two sons get a decent education and have a fair chance of making a name for themselves later on in life,” Rapoone said.

A BCom Economics and Econometrics graduate at the University of Johannesburg, Rapoone has set his sights on running his own entertainment empire in seven years.

The SSP has placed hundreds of children at prestigious schools in Gauteng and Eastern Cape since its inception 10 years ago.

The programme covers tuition fees, books, extra curricula activities at its partner schools, at an average of R 64,000.00 a pupil a year.

An SSP spokesperson said 94% of their scholars completed the programme, and 91percent pursued a tertiary qualification.

The SSP is open to all Grade 6 learners achieving a 65percent average and above in maths, science and English.

A bridging programme is offered in Grade 7 to prepare them for high school. Top-performing pupils are then awarded scholarships to learn at any of SSP partner schools.

Application forms are available from primary schools in Gauteng and Eastern Cape. Applications for the programme close on August 27.