Our project wants to tackle this worrying problem of illiteracy and innumeracy. We need to break the cycle of poverty so that these students will be able to see that they are not bound by their circumstances in life. Their future is our future; this project aims to bring these low-performing students back on track, to where they are supposed to be. We want our students to be able to read and understand their textbooks. We want them to have adequate arithmetic skills.

          We want to close the 'gap' between where they are right now, and where they are meant to be.

What is the 'gap'?

          Firstly, many of the students entering the school are 3 to 6 years behind academically; some begin their secondary school years unable to read and write, and these students usually have little hope unless they get the personal attention that is so crucial in ensuring that they succeed.

          Put simply, these kids have been left behind. They often zone out in classes because of frustration due to lack of comprehension, as teachers are teaching at a much higher level that they can currently cope with. The range of abilities in each of our classrooms is so wide that to individualize learning to each students' current level can be an overwhelming task, given the limited amount of time we have in the classroom with the students.

Our extra classes program

          We have been running weekly extra classes since April 2013. Volunteers form an integral part of our project, and they will come in from outside the school to tutor the students in small groups. Our volunteers will consist or working adults, college and university students, as well as upper secondary school students. Modules and exercises for the students have been prepared for the students, thus making it easier for volunteers to guide and teach the students.

          Our project goal is to have our students successfully pass a Mathematics assessment and an English proficiency test by the end of the year in order to measure achievement and growth.