We help schools grow together by building confidence in teachers, learners and key subjects that shape future opportunities.
Every learner deserves the chance to succeed. But real change doesn’t happen in isolation. That’s why the Capitec Foundation follows a whole school approach. Instead of focusing only on results, we look at the full learning environment.
As Mischkha Naicker, Head of Capitec Foundation, explains: “We play a pivotal role in uplifting education in South African schools. We work with underserved communities and schools where we introduced our whole school approach. We look not only at the learners as the end result, but at the entire school community. We engage with the school leadership, teachers, parents, learners and future teachers so that we can work in a cohesive manner to uplift and improve education standards.”
By working across the entire system, schools are better equipped to respond to their unique challenges and create lasting improvements in how learners experience education.
One of the biggest shifts happens when schools move from isolated efforts to shared responsibility. When everyone is involved, progress becomes more consistent and sustainable.
For Jerry Matjeni, Principal of Ntswane Secondary School, the impact is clear: “Ntswane Secondary School committed to the whole school approach because it was better to look at almost everything that is within the school rather than looking at just academic performance. It becomes easy when everybody is involved – it becomes a system.”
Richard Manganyi, Principal of Palmridge Secondary School, shares a similar experience: “We went back to say let’s all be involved in this. It has become an easy job for us because all of us are now involved. It’s no longer a project of a certain department. It’s a project of the entire school.”
Teachers are at the centre of every learner’s journey.
Through our Ignite development sessions, where teachers share challenges and solutions – and ongoing support, teachers gain practical tools and the confidence to apply them in their classrooms.
Demelda Pillay, Deputy Principal at Palmridge Secondary School, says: “All of these workshops and conferences really encourage teachers to be in the same space with other teachers that are facing the same issues. It’s encouraging to have this sort of relief where you can come and unwind and be developed at the same time.”
Subjects like Mathematics and Life Orientation build academic knowledge and shape how learners think, solve problems and prepare for the future.
Bongani Sibande, Life Orientation Teacher at Soshanguve Secondary School, adds: “It’s also beneficial for Life Orientation teachers because there’s recognition from Capitec Foundation. It gives us confidence and shows that you guys have confidence in us. It also helps us give this confidence to our learners in the classroom.”
Many learners start high school with gaps that make these subjects more challenging.
Susan Brundrit, Learning Programmes Manager for Mathematics at Capitec Foundation, explains: “Grade 8 and 9 learners coming into high school present a huge challenge to maths teachers. They’re coming from a range of primary schools with different abilities, understandings and gaps. Mitigating those gaps so that the learners can confidently continue into Grade 10 is a huge challenge.”
Through tools like classroom investigations, digital learning platforms and dedicated learning hubs, learners get the chance to engage more deeply and build confidence at their own pace.
For one learner, the impact has been life-changing: “Before we didn’t have access to the lab, so teaching and learning was only limited to a classroom. However, after gaining access to the lab through Capitec Foundation, we were able to go the extra mile by engaging in a platform that help boost our performance in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. The lessons in the hub have helped me to gain confidence in these subjects. So, whenever I go to further my studies, I’ll be able to tackle careers that involve Mathematics or Physical Sciences without fearing anything.”
Access to the right tools doesn’t just improve marks. It changes how learners see their future.
Celebrating progress is an important part of sustaining change. Through initiatives like the Ignite Awards, we recognise schools, teachers and learners who work to raise standards.
For Anele Nsindane, Department Head of Mathematics at Katlehong Secondary School, this recognition is a powerful motivator: “The recognition means that the school has outdone itself and we look forward to working with Capitec Foundation to assist our learners to achieve more.”
At the heart of it all is a shared commitment to education. We bring together schools and communities committed to helping more learners succeed.
As Mischkha Naicker explained: “Capitec Bank has invested extensively in the Capitec Foundation, and we are the people on the ground able to uplift education in our communities. They’ve allowed us to enhance our ability to bank on each other.”
When we bank on each other, we do more than improve education. We help shape stronger futures for entire communities.
