They are: Menzi High School with a score of 98.5%; Ekwazini High School with a score of 88%; and Vukuzakhe High School with a score of 84%.

The MUT’s Circle of Excellence Awards, by recognising the outstanding academic performance of Umlazi matriculants, hope to encourage all schools in the district to set their sights on similar achievements. The awards acknowledge excellence in several categories including the top three schools in maths, physical science and accounting and the three schools rated highest in overall performance.

Willowton Group’s donation of three science kits with a total value of R75 000, follows their donation of science kits to the value of R660 000 to 20 Umlazi and four Pietermaritzburg high schools in August 2014 in an initiative with the eThekwini Municipality and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education.

Willowton group, manufacturers of the well-known brands of Sunfoil sunflower oil, Sunshine D margarine, D’lite, WoodenSpoon, Nuvolite and Allsome Rice presented the science kits to the three award-winning schools. Razak Moosa, CEO of Willowton Group said that South Africa’s future prosperity depended on increasing numbers of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and that this process started at school level.

“We hope that the science kits will help to improve the performance of learners in these subjects at local schools.This will enable them to go on to university and ultimately begin careers in engineering and scientific fields which will contribute to a vibrant economy,” said Moosa.

“These are the youngsters who have the potential to become the country’s technical leaders of the future. We view this as an investment in the learners, in their schools and, on a wider scale, in education and the economic growth of the nation.”

“It is clear that by providing essential equipment in classrooms we can boost academic performance at schools. Corporate South Africa has a critical role to play in this process and we are proud to be part of this initiative,” added Moosa.

Prof Mashupye Ratale Kgaphola, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of MUT, thanked the Willowton Group for their support, saying, “This is a fine example of a private sector partnership at local level which aims to tacklethe national challenges facing South Africa.”

Menzi High School’s physical science educator, Malibongwe Khumalo said, “We are delighted to receive this award and the science kit which will be a major boost to our teaching programme. It will help our learners to engage with science and increase their understanding and appreciation of a subject which many believe to be a difficult one.”

The science kits were developed by Edutrade and the New Africa Education Foundation who work closely with the schools to ensure that learners obtain maximum benefit from them.

The kits cover the FET physical sciences curriculum for grades 10 to 12. Topics include mechanics; waves, sound and light; matter and material; and chemical change. They contain all the necessary chemicals and are housed in a lockable metal cabinet with topic trays. They come complete with a teacher’s guide and learner worksheets.

Willowton Group is South Africa’s largest sunflower seed crusher and one of the leading competitors in the country’s FMCG market. It operates across South Africa with manufacturing facilities in Pietermaritzburg, Johannesburg and Cape Town. A wide product range encompasses edible oils, margarines and spreads, rice, beauty, toilet and laundry soaps, candles, chocolate, baking and industrial fats.