The Targeting Talent Programme (TTP) prepares promising learners from disadvantaged backgrounds for study at Higher Education Institutes.
- The Programme is run by the Student Equity and Talent Managment Unit (SETMU).
- From Grades 10–12 programme participants attend a series of contact tuition sessions focused on Maths and Science. The sessions take place over the school holidays.
What the TTP offers sponsors
- Credibility, in the form of a 14-year track record and a real social return on sponsorship
Results
Since 2007 the programme has produced:
- 2478 Matriculants
- 624 Undergraduate degrees
- 210 Postgraduate degrees
To give learners from disadvantaged backgrounds with strong academic potential the best possible chance of success in pursuing higher education. We do this by preparing them:
- Academically
- Socially
- Psychologically
Why
- To change the course of many learners’ lives through education
- To contribute to the South African youth through the mentorship component of the TTP
- To expand university access to a pool of learners with academic potential from across the country
- To be part of Mandela’s dream of nation-building and reconciliation through enabling access to higher education, and through recruitment of learners from different races, gender, geographic locations and socio-economic backgrounds to be part of the TTP that promotes social- cohesion and good citizenship.
How
There are various ways in which individuals or organisations can get involved, including, but not limited to:
- Funding (i.e. sponsoring a learner or cohort of learners)
- Funding a TTP Alumni student in Higher Education
- Mentoring learners through a mentoring recruitment process facilitated by SETMU
- Alerting learners to higher-education bursary opportunities
- Offering your time to tutor learners in Grades 10, 11, and 12, in English, Mathematics or Physical Science
- Donating in kind resources and/or stationery required to participate in the programme
Want to Know More About the Targeting Talent Programme (TTP)?
- Download the TTP - Case For Support
- Participation in the programme involves learners giving up most of their school holidays from Grade 10 to 12.
- In Grades 10-11 learners participate in a total of 3 sessions per year including:
- Two Maths and Science supplementation sessions during their March/April and September holidays
- A 2-week Residential Enrichment session at The University of Witwatersrand (WITS) during their June/July school holidays
- In their matric year, the learners participate in 2 sessions in March/April and in June/July. This allows them to prepare for their prelims and final exams.
The Grade 12 learners’ showcase their talent and hard work during the Celebration of Work. This event at the June/July Residential Academic Enrichment Curriculumn (RAEC) Session serves as a culmination of the Social Research Curriculum, taught to learners from the start of their TTP experience.
They are urged to use the research skills taught to them, when they conduct a profile of their community and a needs assessment of the area. Learners then build on this knowledge in Grade 11 and are taught to implement their projects.
In Grade 12 learners present their projects to a panel of adjudicators. By implementing these research projects learners are able to assist communities in their respective areas, which ensures that the impact of the Programme itself is far-reaching.
Testimonials
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Candidate Testimonials
"Being part of TTP inspired me to love studying and to know which field to go for." - Handeka Silinda
"Being part of TTP has given me a platform to interact with other students and form good friendships with the other learners" - Mulalo Manwatha
"I managed to obtain my degree without much hassle. Now I am a registered candidate Project Construction Manager because of the head start that TTP has given me." - Phathutshedzo Mudau
"As a learner at TTP I struggled with confidence and self-esteem but having been recognized by TTP as having potential, I dared myself to places further than I had planned." - Mlondolozi Mbambo
"The programme has introduced us to varsity life and that helped me to cope since my first year at University because I had an idea of what to expect." - Ramakgahlela Sebati
"Wherever I feel like I’m losing my focus towards my academics, the quotes I’ve recorded at TTP still gives me power to never give up on my future." - Victoria Matshelane
"Being a part of the TTP experience was the most enriching experience of my life. I really grew both intellectually and as a person, making connections and links that have altered my very persona." - Sean Iyer
"Being part of TTP has been a motivation to me and I believe I am where I am today because of TTP." - Nkgekgethe Nkgadima
"Being a TTP graduate is one the achievements I am proud of, other than TTP I am proud of my leadership skills that has been developing over the years." - Mogoshadi Raletlou Seepe
"It’s through TTP that I developed interest in Actuarial Science, and hopefully someday I’ll also get to have an impact on the youth." - Bonolo Phillips
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Sponsor Testimonials
"Year after year the program has had commendable success in helping the learners perform well enough in Grade 12 to qualify for University admission. The bachelor pass rates have consistently been above 90% for some years and this is a wonderful achievement and a good start to economic independence for the learners." - BP South Africa Education Foundation Trust (Pty) (BPSA EFT)
"This is a crucial and strategic partnership with far reaching opportunities for the total development of an individual. I have witnessed the effectiveness of the implementation and lessons learned are transforming the entire schooling system at this level." - LDE
"The Department of Science and Technology is pleased about the five-year long relationship we had with SETMU (WITS). The learners on the programme have been positively influenced and their lives were touched and fundamentally advanced through the Talent Development Programme, implemented by SETMU. We are certain that many more young people will benefit from the programmes offered by SETMU towards impacting an improved higher education experience" - Department of Science and Technology (DST)
"Feedback received indicates that the TTP learners are taking the knowledge and experiences gained from the TTP back to their communities to share with the peers. This essentially enables more learners to become indirectly involved in this holistic and comprehensive programme. " - IDC
"As Standard Bank, we applaud the tireless commitment and dedication of the Wits TTP team over the past fourteen years. This has resulted in over 2000 learners across the country benefiting from the programme" - Standard Bank
"We have had opportunities to interact with learners who have gone through the programme during their secondary education journey who are now successful professionals in the various disciplines. Their testimonies on the contribution of the programme for them to achieve success has led the SETA to decide to continue in partnership with Wits and the LDoE to support another group of 50 learners in the 2019/20 Financial Year." - ETDP SETA