In boardrooms and classrooms alike, the future of South Africa’s economy is being written in equations, coded in algorithms and engineered in laboratories. In Gqeberha, that future is getting a meaningful boost.
Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) has renewed its longstanding partnership with the Nelson Mandela University’s Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC), reaffirming a shared commitment to strengthening Mathematics and Physical Science education in under-resourced schools across Nelson Mandela Bay.
Since its inception in 2018, the collaboration has focused on targeted learner incubation, teacher development and blended STEM learning support. It is a model built on consistency rather than quick fixes, and the results are speaking volumes.
In the 2025 matric examinations, learners supported by the programme achieved an 80 percent pass rate in both Mathematics and Physical Science. These figures significantly outperform the respective national pass rates of 64 percent for Mathematics and 77,3 percent for Physical Science. More telling still is the quality of those passes. Of the 30 participating learners, 25 achieved Bachelor or Diploma passes, opening doors to tertiary education and, critically, to careers within South Africa’s growing STEM economy.
The success is rooted in more than extra lessons. It is driven by sustained academic mentoring, access to digital learning resources and comprehensive educator training. “The GMMDC programme delivers interactive digital resources and professional development programmes for Mathematics educators, fostering dynamic, inclusive learning environments,” explains Natalie Gill, Project Leader at the GMMDC. “With the support received from Isuzu Motors South Africa, we have been able to empower a significant number of learners through strengthening connections between classroom learning and real-world challenges, promoting sustainable education impact in public schools.”
For IMSAf, the partnership forms part of a broader societal leadership agenda. Education is a central pillar in the company’s long-term strategy, particularly as South Africa’s manufacturing and automotive sectors increasingly depend on advanced technical and engineering skills.
“The partnership with GMMDC brings to life our commitment to improving the quality of education and narrowing the skills gap in South Africa. Through this collaboration, we have encouraged the adoption of STEM subjects in our schools, aligning learning outcomes with the skills and needs of the future,” says Nandi Matomela, Department Executive: Corporate Affairs at Isuzu Motors South Africa. “We are encouraged to see some of the learners who came out of the GMMDC programme pursuing careers in engineering and related fields, and we remain committed to supporting the development of the next generation of innovators, engineers and professionals.”
The programme’s impact extends well beyond improved matric results. Several former participants are now pursuing tertiary qualifications in fields such as Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Accounting. These are disciplines that feed directly into South Africa’s economic backbone, from infrastructure development to digital transformation.
By promoting STEM subject adoption, IMSAf is not only contributing to narrowing the national skills gap, but also helping to create tangible pathways to meaningful employment for young South Africans. It is an investment measured not only in percentages, but in potential.
With the partnership now renewed, IMSAf and the GMMDC plan to expand innovative teaching tools, strengthen educator support and deepen learner mentorship. In doing so, they are helping more learners see Mathematics and Physical Science not as barriers, but as bridges to opportunity.
