Math, Science, & Technology Enrollment

Project Summary
Few students have been enrolling for the Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.) degree programme because of high entry requirements and the intensive work that students go through at the University. It is evident that many students coming from high schools are not academically well equipped for admission into tertiary institutions. The Faculty of Science and Agriculture at the University of Fort Hare responded to this situation by establishing a unit that caters for learners that have graduated from high school but with marks that are lower than the entry requirements for admission into the university. This unit is called Science and Agriculture Foundation Programme (SAFP) and is guided by the following vision and mission.

The SAFP Vision
The Science and Agriculture Foundation envisage a well-rounded ambassadorial student who is developed through an enhanced teaching and learning programme that is suitable within an optimal academic context.

The SAFP Mission
To provide access and a strong science and agriculture foundation that develops a critical and independent student who is able to integrate theory and practice.

A dedicated team of young and experienced academics are the foot soldiers that work with these students for two years, providing them with a solid foundation of their tertiary education. After two years the students that have passed will be integrated with the mainstream student at the second year of B. Sc.

A Unit called Forte School of Science and Technology (FOSST) was established in the past few years and it serves as an outreach arm of the Faculty of Science and Agriculture. Through FOSST the faculty provides support to the surrounding high schools. The latter are the feeder institutions for first years every year. Since its establishment, this Unit has been supporting learners with Saturday classes for Maths and Physical Science; and both teachers and learners during the week with technology and experiments workshops.

As staff that is involved in the activities of both units, we are committed to assist the University to have a reservoir of quality students from schools around the institution, and this would increase the number of productive graduates. Participation in the project would also unveil, through research, barriers to learning, and this would in turn assist those involved in devising innovative ways of teaching Maths, Science and technology subjects.