Diversified miner Glencore’s South African coal mining division demonstrated its commitment to helping progress school learners through donations of key digital equipment.

These donations include 20 laptops, ten smart phones and 25 tablets, provided to top performing learners at select host schools, thereby amplifying access to digital resources, fostering academic excellence and empowering communities and the youth.

Glencore is a major coal miner in South Africa, with its coal mining endeavours in the country including the iMpunzi Complex, the Goedgevonden Complex and the Tweefontein Complex.

Glencore states that the investment in education, especially in programmes that focus on developing and improving on important subjects, such as mathematics and science, are crucial for empowering the youth and enriching communities to inspire progress.

In areas where resources may be limited, Glencore says investing in education becomes even more essential as it can break the cycle of poverty and open doors to a brighter future for learners.

The miner reports that the Grade 12 class of 2023's accomplishment is not an isolated incident, and is instead the result of coordinated efforts, which included the innovative Ligbron eLearning programme which, Glencore says, “has seen remarkable strides in the improvement of mathematics and science pass rates respectively”, empowering students across 16 schools supported by Glencore’s coal business.

The Ligbron eLearning programme, supported by Glencore Coal, is an instrumental programme used to connect schools nationwide by facilitating live-streamed mathematics and science lessons.

"We are proud of the matric class of 2023. They have done exceptionally well. To have such incredible results through the Ligbron programme, it is a simple yet powerful reminder of the positive effects investing in education can have on the youth from the communities we operate in,” says Glencore Coal community manager Khomotjo Mashiane.

She adds that this is how Glencore is progressing together with communities and other stakeholders to implement corporate social investment plans that focus on education and, in particular, mathematics and science.

In mathematics, 12 out of 16 schools supported by Glencore Coal experienced increased pass rates, with seven schools showing improvements exceeding 20% from the previous year. Moreover, six schools achieved pass rates above 80%, indicating notable gains in mathematical proficiency.

In science, 13 out of 16 schools experienced higher pass rates from 2022 to 2023. Notably, six schools exhibited improvements of over 20%, compared to the preceding year, while 13 schools attained pass rates surpassing 80%, illustrating a shared commitment to scientific excellence.

The Ligbron e-Learning System is an instrumental programme used to connect schools nationwide by facilitating live-streamed mathematics and science lessons. This innovative approach has transcended geographical barriers, providing equal opportunities for students regardless of their location.