Transforming lives through maths, science and digital innovation in Kimberley
Some of the learners who have completed training at the Maths & Science Leadership Academy. Front, from left: Peter Moya, Tshepiso Bingwane, Dimpo Ganakgomo, Leony Moyisile, and Simonè van Roojen. Back: Ethan Human, Gaurekwe Molusi, and Anne Maclean, managing director and founder of the Academy, with Nomhlanhla Nyamagoronga.
Image: Danie van der Lith
TUCKED away in the heart of the Northern Cape is a small non-profit organisation with an outsized impact. The Maths & Science Leadership Academy (MSLA), based in Kimberley, continues to quietly but powerfully change the lives of hundreds of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, equipping them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to become agents of economic change and social upliftment.
With a mission rooted in promoting shared prosperity and economic inclusion, MSLA has made it its goal to offer high-quality, future-focused education to learners from 18 high schools across the Kimberley area. Each year, 320 learners from Grades 9 to 12 attend MSLA’s extensive academic support programmes, which include afternoon classes, Saturday school sessions and dedicated holiday academies.
But MSLA is not just about helping learners pass their exams; it’s about grooming the next generation of innovators, global citizens, and community leaders.
Grooming future change-makers
“Our focus is to empower young people with the values, skills and passion to actively grow the economy of the Northern Cape,” said MSLA managing director and founder Anne Maclean. “We want our learners to become the hope of their families, the builders of their communities, and contributors to a thriving province.”
To achieve this, MSLA provides a robust curriculum centred around core subjects like mathematics and science while also nurturing social-emotional skills and instilling a deep sense of purpose and responsibility in each learner. This balanced approach ensures learners are well-prepared not only academically, but also mentally and emotionally for the demands of tertiary education and the modern workforce.
Forty-six staff members from Risen Advisory have enrolled to begin their journey toward becoming Microsoft Office Specialists, inspired by the success stories of MSLA’s own learners.
Image: Danie van der Lith
A digital learning hub in the Northern Cape
MSLA’s commitment to future-readiness is perhaps best exemplified by its bold embrace of technology. The academy is a registered Microsoft Education Institution, with every learner and teacher equipped with Microsoft 365 Education accounts, a resource that would be considered exceptional even in the country’s wealthier provinces.
Technology is deeply integrated into every aspect of teaching and learning at MSLA.
As part of this digital focus, MSLA is also a registered Certiport Authorised Testing Centre and offers Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Since 2022, an incredible 431 learners from Grades 8 to 12 have earned MOS certifications, with some achieving expert-level proficiency in both Word and Excel.
A Northern Cape first — and a national example
“It’s no exaggeration to say that this is unheard of,” said Maclean. “Where else in the Northern Cape, or in South Africa for that matter, are learners from no-fee state schools obtaining MOS certifications and becoming globally certified in digital tools that the professional world demands?”
These achievements are not only academic milestones but also career-shaping qualifications that set MSLA learners apart as they transition to higher education and beyond. For many, it’s a foot in the door to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and an escape from the cycle of poverty.
Pictured are members of Risen Advisory. Front, from left: Sonja Herbet, Freek Schoeman, Carli Venter, Jeannie Lize Coetzee, and Khanya Mosinki. Back: Anne Maclean, Ezekiel Lebona, Natalie van Wyk, Adriaan Venter, Kudakwashe Mhuriro, and Hendrik Wessels.
Image: Danie van der Lith
Beyond the classroom: Inspiring the professional world
MSLA’s impact is now extending beyond school learners. In another exciting first for Kimberley, the academy recently launched its inaugural MOS programme for professionals in the workplace. Forty-six staff members from Risen Advisory have enrolled to begin their journey toward becoming Microsoft Office Specialists, inspired by the success stories of MSLA’s own learners.
In a powerful cross-generational moment, MSLA learners who have already achieved MOS certifications were invited to share their stories with the professionals, demonstrating that age is no barrier when it comes to digital learning and transformation.
Looking Ahead
As the education landscape in South Africa continues to evolve, MSLA stands as a shining example of what can be achieved through passion, vision, and an unwavering commitment to community upliftment. Its success challenges the notion that quality education is the preserve of the wealthy or urban elite.
MSLA is actively reshaping the narrative in Kimberley, proving that with the right support and opportunities, even learners from the most under-resourced communities can excel and lead.
For companies, communities, and government stakeholders seeking to build a brighter future for the Northern Cape, MSLA offers not just a model to follow but a partner to walk the journey with.