Programme Details

DYFTP is a programme that is dedicated to increasing participation and improving the performance of learners in Mathematics, Physical Science, Biology, Accounting, and Life Skills.

The programme is targeted at benefiting learners who are from previously disadvantaged and poor communities, especially from the rural areas of South Africa. All subjects are taken at higher grade. Learners are taught relevant Life Skills in order to prepare them for the world of work.

Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Science & Technology Dr Ben Ngubane acknowledged in his speech during the presentation of South Africa’s Research and Development Strategy in 2002 that Science and Technology is critical to the future of South Africa. South African government also recognizes the role played by Science and Technology in providing enabling environment for innovation, research and building human capital that is required for the future of our country. Innovation needs adequately trained scientists, engineers and technologists. There is increasing evidence that South Africa still do not produce enough scientists, engineers and technologists.

The DYFTP started in 1994 as the Kentron Bridging School with an intake of 120 learners only from Gauteng . Out of the 120 learners 20 were for the Auditor General and their main focus was on finance. The rest were focusing on mathematics and science subjects. In 2001 the Department of Defense joined hands with Denel, and placed 250 learners a year in the programme. To date 1500 learners have benefited from this programme. Most of these learners are in the employ of DoD’s different arms of services.

In 2004 the DCLD was established and the DYFTP was then expanded to accommodate learners from all nine provinces.

The DYFTP has the following objectives:

• To improve selected students’ performance in Mathematics, Science, Biology, English, Computer, Communication and Life Skills.
• To prepare and encourage learners to embark on Science Engineering and Technology based careers.
• To prepare learners with relevant life skills and to equip them for the world of work.

For the DoD, in addition to the above objectives, the DYFTP aimed to prepare students for highly specialized departments e.g. Combats, technical, health and financial disciplines.

The DYFTP is designed to build capacity of historically disadvantaged learners with potential in mathematics and science to enable them to qualify for further careers in Science Engineering and Technical fields. The focus is on learners with potential but whose qualifications and knows how have not been developed to full potential largely because of the disadvantaged and under resourced schools they come from. The DYFTP emphasizes the formal learning dimensions of Mathematics, Finance, Biology and Science improvement and also addresses development of Personal Life Skills. Learners are accommodated at the Denel hostel and commute daily to EWC for lectures. Learners write the final matric examinations and are provided with new certificates containing their improved results by the Gauteng Department of Education.

To be eligible to participate in the programme the learners must:

• Be between 18 and 21 years old.
• Have already written Grade 12.
• Have applied or expressed interest in career within Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) fraternity.
• Be medically fit (military).
• Have had Mathematics, Biology, Accounting and Physical Science in their previous Grade 12 attempt.
• Be single with no dependants.

Learners are provided with fulltime accommodation and meals three times a day at the Denel Hostel in Kempton Park. Each learner has own study space and adequate storage space (wardrobe).

The hostel also has recreational facilities namely:

• Fully equipped gym
• TV room with videos,
• Snooker tables etc.

There are sport days which are arranged and organized by learners themselves.

Safety is our concern, therefore to ensure safety of the learners we have installed cameras in the girls section and the facilities are under 24 hours Armed Security. Gates are locked at certain time of the night and no external visitors allowed after 22:00. There are also hostel parents on duty at all times.

The core subjects which are Mathematics, Science, Biology and Accounting are presented on higher grade of the Department of Education (DoE). The exams are written at the end of the programme.