Targeting Talent / Targeting Development Programme (TTP/TDP)

Targeting Talent / Targeting Development Programme
(TTP/TDP)
Targeting talent, investing in
excellence, facilitating success
Background
The Targeting Talent/
Development Programme (TTP/
TDP) was launched in 2007 as a
pre-university enrichment
programme in partnership with the
Goldman Sachs and Telkom
foundation. It was piloted from
2007 – 2009 with 267 learners
from Gauteng, Limpopo and
Mpumalanga provinces.
TTP/ TDP aims to increase the
academic, social and
psychological preparation of
academically talented learners
from disadvantaged backgrounds
for admission to, and success at,
selective South African
universities. Annually, the
programme recruits top
performing learners in maths and
science to be part of the
programme. Once selected,
learners become involved in the
programme over a three period
from grade 10 through to grade
12.
The programme consists of
various elements:
Learner enrichment
Residential assistants
programme
Educator’s enrichment
programme
Family Workshops
Learner enrichment
The opportunity of being part of
this programme exposed me to a
whole different side of education. I
received the privilege of being taught
by some of the best and highly
qualified lecturers. During the past
six contact sessions, we have all had
the chance to meet new people from
different walks of life and engage
with them. In the midst of our
conversations whether short
greetings down the corridor, or long
talks about the Johannesburg
weather and intensity of the
programme in the dining hall; I have
discovered that no matter how
different we are; there will always be
that element that we all have in
common, and that is the power to
dream and achieve- because we are
all capable of that.
I would like to express my sincere
gratitude to our loyal donors BP and
SANRAL for fuelling our future and
1 / 4

The programme includes
academic, social and
psychological enrichment. Three
contact sessions are held
annually to prepare learners for
their final grade 12 examinations
and for access to selective South
African universities, by providing
additional support to improve their
academic performance and
psychologically prepare them for
university life.
The first and last contact sessions
focus on mathematics and
science supplementation to
improve learners’ academic
performance.
The main contact session, the
residential academic enrichment
camp (RAEC), is held in June
every year for a two week period
.This contact session aims to
promote the academic and
personal development of learners
through a range of academic and
social activities.
The programme currently hosts
approximately 630 learners from
grade 10 – 12 from schools
nationally, jointly funded by the
South African Roads Agency, Ltd
(SANRAL), BP SA (Pty), Limpopo
Department of Education,
Industrial Development
Corporation (IDC) and the
Department of Science and
Technology (DST). 342 learners
have graduated from the
programme and are currently
being tracked by the SETMU
team. Some of these learners are
of the first cohort who participated
in the programme from 2007 –
2009 and are currently in their
third year study at various tertiary
institutions. 75 of these learners
also graduated last year. 83% of
the 75 learners obtained the
minimum requirements to qualify
paving our road to success. I would
also like to say “thank you” to the
Limpopo Department of Education
for going the extra mile to make our
education ooze with value.
My gratitude also goes out to all
parents, guardians and educators for
your unconditional support and
endless words of encouragement
from the beginning till now. Ms Zena
Richards and the SETMU team,
thank you for making our
participation in this programme extra
special. Professor Loyiso Nongxa,
thank you for taking time from your
pounding schedule to be with us
today; your presence is highly
appreciated- thank you for being part
of this journey.
Finally, my fellow TTP diamond,
soon-to-be university students; let us
not allow the hardwork of every team
player who contributed to making
this programme a success go to
waste but let’s keep the flag flying
high by making the most of every
opportunity available to us. The time
to make things happen begins now.
Keep walking like Jonny Walker and
be the captain of your own ship like
Captain Morgan, and always
remember, the future begins with the
present.
Vukosi Maluleke, Learner from
Lemana High School
2 / 4

for admission into a Bachelor’s
Degree in their matriculation
results and achieved outstanding
results, receiving distinctions in
various subjects. Some of these
learners are currently in their first
year of study.
Residential Assistant
Programme
A group of responsible university
students are recruited to assist in
the implementation of the
programme. The students
selected are trained by the
Counselling and Careers
Development Unit (CCDU) based
at the University. The role of
these volunteers includes: looking
after the learners during the
residential programmes; escorting
learners to various venues; and
mentoring, motivating and
supporting learners throughout
the programme. Through
responsible behaviour and
support these volunteers also act
as role models to the learners.
Some of these assistants are
graduates of SETMU’s
programmes, who have chosen to
take up this role as a means of
self-development and ‘giving
back’ to the unit.
Educator enrichment
programme
The June contact session, in
addition to learner development,
also promotes educator
enrichment.
Maths and Science educators
from the same schools as the
learners are invited to participate
in week-long professional
development programme.
Educators participating in the
programme receive input from
various experts on effective
3 / 4

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
methods of teaching the
mathematics and science
curriculum. The educator
enrichment programme aims to
academically and socially enrich
educators who are part of the
programme.
4 / 4