Tell me what Protec does.
Protec's mission is to increase the pool of science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) skills within SA. It has deployed supplementary tuition programmes through its branches and projects in six provinces. The focal point is improving results in mathematics and physical sciences, the two gateway subjects for Stem-related careers.
Why is Stem education important?
SA, and indeed the global economy, needs more people qualified in Stem fields to ensure we can stay ahead of the game in the fourth industrial revolution, while being a global innovator. Stem careers are cutting edge. Among Protec's thousands of alumni are men and women working in careers such as medicine, pharmaceuticals, IT, engineering, robotics and actuarial science.
Stem-related studies and qualifications create a variety of career opportunities, they promote creative and critical thinking skills, they stimulate innovation, build entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills, and are aligned to the National Development Plan goals.
Lockdown was hard for learners, especially those who do not have ready access to Wi-Fi and laptops or smartphones. How was your organisation affected? And how were you able to support disadvantaged learners?
Protec was able to withstand some of the external forces plaguing many businesses and nonprofit organisations, and we continued with our programmes virtually - albeit with many challenges that highlighted the chasm between the haves and have-nots.
Our learners, who predominantly attend public schools in previously underprivileged communities, received little or no support from their institutions. Protec had to come up with a solution that included the use of Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp. We put this in place, but found that learners had no data to participate, so this too was offered to them. Many learners did not have their own devices, and our project and branch teams had to assist learners late into the night as they secured time on their parents' or guardians' devices.
What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
My philosophy has always been to improve the lot of others, and at Protec I get to do that on a much larger scale than I could have ever expected. It is encouraging to see that the efforts one puts into one's work translate into changing the lives of so many.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
There were very few choices in SA as I was growing up in a little town in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where the environment was more geared towards the traditional way of doing things. The choice of careers was limited to an administrative role or becoming a teacher. Becoming a medical practitioner was my first career aspiration. But I was a reasonably good sportsman and participated in various sporting codes, so my next aspiration was to become a professional sportsperson. That too did not pan out as there were limited chances in those apartheid days.
I had vacation jobs in a range of sectors, and they exposed me to the world of work. I registered for a BCom at Wits University, which led me on a path to Protec.
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