Promaths is Investec’s award-winning partnership with Kutlwanong Maths, Science and Technology Centre. The programme provides tuition to high school learners who show potential in maths and science – the subjects deemed most vital for South Africa’s economic growth. But Promaths’ impact goes far beyond excellent academic results. We spoke to Ntando Zuma, a Promaths alumnus and current Investec employee. His story shows how changing just one life can translate into lasting change for many others.
Like many South African learners, Ntando Zuma struggled with maths at school – it was like a language he didn’t understand. He battled with his grades, to a point where he repeated grade 10. But Ntando knew he had to achieve in order to qualify for bursaries to attend tertiary education, as his family could not afford the fees. The shift happened when he went to seek help with his maths and science results with Promaths during his grade 12 year.
Today, Ntando has a double major in economics and statistics, with an honours degree in economics. He works at Investec in the UK savings team. In his spare time, he runs a tutoring business to help others achieve academic success. But Ntando didn’t always see himself as a numbers man, in his dream job, with his own business supporting others.
“I wondered what the programme was about, especially after seeing more and more of my peers improving from going to Promaths,” he explains. “After joining the programme my marks just took off.”
What makes Promaths so effective?
Ntando credits the pace of learning and level of difficulty at which the subjects are taught – much more challenging than at school. The programme provides frequent lessons, consistent support and the educational resources learners need to excel. The healthy sense of competition among learners also encourages ambition and motivation.
The personalised support and high standard of teaching at Promaths instilled a deep love of mathematics in Ntando. As his maths and science marks improved, his success inspired him to make progress in other subjects. Frequenting his local library, he learnt as much as he could and improved his results. Ntando then shared his knowledge and skills with fellow learners, helping his class prepare for their final exams. His final results were an impressive 94% for mathematics and 96% for physics, and he achieved distinctions in all his subjects.
“Doing well in maths gave me the confidence – maths was considered to be one of the hardest subjects at school – so when I saw myself improving at my maths performance, I realised I could replicate the same for other subjects. So I then aimed to get a distinction in everything,” he says.
Continued support at university
Ntando took the confidence and ambition that Promaths inspired in him and studied at Nelson Mandela University on an Investec CSI bursary. In a new environment, away from their communities, many students face isolation and lack of support – barriers to their academic success. According to Democracy Development Program, roughly 250 000 graduates enter the South African labour market each year, with approximately 30% finding employment. This places pressure on students to stand out when applying for jobs.
But Ntando drew on support from Promaths and Investec, and rose to the challenges, bringing his peers along yet again. He was instrumental in establishing a Promaths alumni chapter at his university, connecting alumni across the country.
During his third year, Ntando started tutoring students. But as he neared the end of his studies, the challenge of employment after graduation loomed. He knew he and his peers had to differentiate themselves in the market, but he wasn’t entirely sure how. Investec staff act as mentors to their bursary recipients. Ntando contacted current and previous Investec mentors and organised employability workshops with the Promaths alumni chapter. Over a hundred students attended. Ntando notes that some attendees still share how helpful this was getting them where they are now.
After he graduated, Ntando connected with Investec to enquire about employment opportunities. He’s still there, four years later.
Multiplying success and impact
The skills and competencies Ntando gained through Promaths and during his tertiary studies contributed to his success at Investec. “I really enjoy working at the bank and the way in which our organisational culture is geared towards allowing each individual to reach their full potential,” says Ntando. He also acts as a mentor to Investec CSI bursary recipients.
In addition, Ntando provides tutoring and mentorship to learners from grades 4 to 12 through his own company, The Tutoring Co. The business is structured so that learners who can afford to pay for lessons subsidise those who can’t. Some learners Ntando has tutored are now studying at tertiary institutions. This includes a student who is completing his training as a medical doctor in Cuba, and another who is completing her studies at the University of Pretoria.
“I am very proud of the learners I have supported, particularly when I think about how much we all struggled to get to where we are today. I remember I would catch taxis and often walk long distances to get to their homes just to give them lessons. With one student, we would do our tutoring sessions in a shack because she was from a very poor background. Today she is completing her studies at the University of Pretoria.”
Looking ahead, Ntando’s goal is to grow and learn at Investec. He aims to learn as much as he can about the banking sector, and continue developing as a financial services professional. He would also like to see his tutoring business grow and one day turn The Tutoring Co into a successful social enterprise that can help thousands of learners from disadvantaged backgrounds across South Africa.
Ntando’s story is just one example that shows the lasting impact that well-run corporate social investment programmes can have. Programmes like Promaths can inspire young people to be engaged members of society who are in touch with the challenges facing the country, actively giving back to communities and transferring their success to others.
“My story is not only for the top achievers,” says Ntando, “I’ve got as low as 3% on my maths in school. So even that person who gets 3% can get 90%. It takes a lot of hard work, but it’s possible. Wherever someone is – at one stage I was unemployed – you can find a way.”
Promaths by Investec
Promaths was launched in Dobsonville, Soweto, in 2005 through a partnership with the Kutlwanong Maths, Science and Technology Centre and the Department of Basic Education. The programme provides extra maths and science tuition for learners in previously disadvantaged communities from grades 10 to 12. More than 10 000 learners have been through the programme. Promaths operates a total of 22 centres across seven provinces and ten of these are funded by Investec. Since the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, Promaths had to pivot to operate online. The swift response by Investec and the other stakeholders saw Promaths evolve into a hybrid model with both face-to-face and virtual lessons. Promaths continues to produce excellent results, with a staggering 355 distinctions in maths and 346 distinctions in science achieved in the 2021 academic year.
Llyn’s remarkable maths and science achievement with Promaths
Llyn Mpangane is the Promaths top achiever for the 2021 academic year. She attended Khusalani Secondary School in Mpumalanga and attended the Promaths programme at Mbombele Promaths Centre. She achieved an incredible 98% for mathematics and 99% for physical sciences.
Llyn’s success has been recognised provincially and nationally. She was the top learner in the quintile three schools in Mpumalanga, and came second in the country for quintile three schools. Llyn is using her skills in maths and science to study medicine at the University of Cape Town.
