Stellenbosch University (SU) recently launched an online education platform to assist high school learners in their educational journey. SU Advantage is a supplementary education platform aimed at South African learners in grades 10, 11 and 12. It was launched on 17 March at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies (Stias).
“Education brings you into spaces where your voice counts,” said Thuli Madonsela, law trust chair in social justice at Stellenbosch University, at the launch of SU Advantage. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
The platform is an “online learning and teaching solution with the primary focus of supporting high school learners”, said Martin Viljoen, spokesperson for SU, in a press release.
In a prerecorded address played at the event, SU’s rector and vice-chancellor, Prof Wim de Villiers, stated that the platform provides over 1 000 lessons in 11 different subjects and costs R399 per month. Since its initial developmental launch in 2020, this program has aided over 4000 learners with their schooling, stated De Villiers.
SU Advantage, a new Stellenbosch University initiative, partnered with five high schools, Fezeka Secondary School, Mfuleni Secondary School, Forest Heights Secondary School, Woodlands Secondary School and Bishop Lavis Secondary School and awarded two gifted learners from each school a free full subscription to SU Advantage, a tablet and all the necessary data to complete their school year. This is according to SU Advantage project manager, Jerome Topley. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
‘Education needs to be equalized’
“What you have started here today is historical and I am honored to be a part of it,” said Thuli Madonsela, law trust chair in social justice at SU and keynote speaker for this event, in her address at the launch of SU Advantage. “In order for education to be an equalizer, first education needs to be equalized.”
“Education is a social justice issue,” said Madonsela. “Right now, youth can not all access education and those who can, struggle to access quality education. SU Advantage will not solve the problem but it will solve part of it.”
“In order for education to be an equalizer, first education needs to be equalized,” said law trust chair in social justice at Stellenbosch University Thuli Madonsela at the launch of SU Advantage on 17 March. “Right now, youth can not all access education and those who can struggle to access quality education. SU Advantage will not solve the problem but it will solve part of it.” PHOTO: Jamie Venter
The director of the SU centre for pedagogy (SUNSEP) and leader of the initiative, Dr Benedict Khoboli, explained that SU Advantage has “long been a dream of [his]”, and that the online platform is “not meant to replace high school learning but rather assist learners [studying]”.
To celebrate the launch, SU Advantage project manager Jerome Topley explained that they partnered with five high schools and chose two gifted learners from each to receive a full free subscription to SU Advantage, a tablet and all the necessary data to complete their school year. The high schools were Fezeka Secondary School, Mfuleni Secondary School, Forest Heights Secondary School, Woodlands Secondary School and Bishop Lavis Secondary School.
Thuli Madonsela, law trust chair in social justice at Stellenbosch University, and Dr Benedict Khoboli, director of the SU centre of pedagogy (SUNSEP) and leader of the initiative, at the launch of SU Advantage, an online supplementary education platform for grades 10, 11 and 12. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
“We can do more, make [SU Advantage] more accessible,” said SU dean of education, Prof Mbulungeni Madiba. “We are appealing for support, we are appealing for funders and we are now open for business.”