The World Competitiveness Report ranks South Africa 49th (last) in economic literacy, brain drain and interest in science and technology; 48th in science not taught adequately at schools; 47th in skilled labour availability and 46th in finance skills.

It goes on to report a lack of basic life skills training; a high proportion of students leaving school with poor communication and innumeracy skills; an insufficient focus on entrepreneurship in secondary and tertiary institutions and finally; science, medical, engineering and technical students graduating without the business skills that enable them to become self employed.

Given that a Grade 12 qualification significantly increases the chances of a new venture progressing past the start-up phase and that by taking mathematics and science in high school, access to further and higher education is increased, the importance of improving the standard of education in areas of Science, Mathematics and Technology (ICT), cannot be underestimated.

It was with this, together with President Mbeki’s call to alleviate the serious shortage of proficiently qualified teachers in the areas of Science, Mathematics and Technology (ICT) in mind that the Africa Drive Project was born.

The project involves the development and rollout of innovative new learner-centred strategies and the introduction of new learning technologies, to train educators in:

- the teaching of knowledge and skills vital
  to South Africa’s social and economic future.
- the use of new strategies and technologies
  to deliver learning programmes.

Not only will these learning strategies improve educators’ knowledge, they will specifically improve skills and competencies in the areas of Science and Mathematics.