As the only privately funded MST (Math, Science and Technology) schools in South Africa, LEAP has a clear focus to create and maintain a structured learning environment for students in grades 8 through 12 that will allow each young person to develop fully as a human being and to develop a positive, caring lifestyle and an appropriate work ethic.
The schools’ aim is to enable students to gain access to tertiary study opportunities, to increase their potential to be successful in their chosen career paths and to develop as socially responsible citizens of South Africa. LEAP prepares students to attain these goals by enabling them to graduate from the school with a university exemption in science, math and English.
In addition to supporting students academically, LEAP schools aim to establish an environment where positive role models are created and where successes are shared and celebrated, counteracting the negative influence of lowered expectations common in disadvantaged communities. This is reinforced by LEAP’s unique relationship with its students and use of specialized technology training for all.
The six campuses of the LEAP Schools, In Cape Town, Diepsloot, Ga-Rankuwa, Johannesburg, Limpopo, and Pretoria, have had remarkable success in educating the most socioeconomically challenged students from Gugulethu, Langa and Alexandra. LEAP’s mission is to provide a solution to South Africa’s acute shortage of science and math skills among high poverty students. LEAP has graduated 142 students in the last 3 years—126 of whom are currently enrolled in university or other tertiary study programs. Since its first matric class, LEAP has achieved a 92% average Grade 12 pass rate on the exit exam. In March 2010 LEAP’s first university graduate, Bonisanani Mtshekisa, was awarded a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the University of the Western Cape and is now working for Allan Gray Asset Management.