Rand Mutual Assurance has launched a multi-million-rand STEAM Project in rural North West, equipping learners with critical technical skills and strengthening South Africa’s future workforce pipeline.
Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA), in partnership with the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA), the North West Provincial Department of Education, and Northam Platinum Mines, officially launched its flagship STEAM Project at Botlhabelo High School in Brits. The initiative represents a major investment in science, technology, engineering, accounting and mathematics education for learners in underserved rural communities.
As part of RMA’s Social Insurance mandate, the programme responds directly to South Africa’s growing shortage of technical and analytical skills. According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, engineering, ICT and financial services remain among the country’s most scarce and critical skills. Industry research shows more than 60% of companies report STEAM shortages as a barrier to growth, while only 13% of university graduates pursue STEAM careers, contributing to an estimated 70,000-person deficit in ICT alone.
The STEAM Project addresses this gap by providing structured academic support, digital learning access and career guidance to 150 learners in the Further Education and Training phase. The programme focuses on mathematics, physical sciences and accounting, subjects that form the foundation of South Africa’s future technical workforce.
Delivered by youth development organisation Primestars, the initiative includes weekend academic classes supported by assessments and continuous tracking, digital and blended learning platforms, career guidance and exposure to STEAM industries, and access to bursary and educational opportunities through Northam Platinum Mines. These interventions aim to connect learners directly to tertiary education pathways and employment opportunities.
“South Africa’s economic resilience depends on our ability to grow a strong pipeline of technical and analytical talent. Yet, too many young people, especially in rural communities, are excluded from opportunities simply because they lack access to quality STEAM education,” said Thulani Sibeko, RMA’s COID and Social Insurance CEO.
“Through this investment, and in partnership with INSETA, the North West Department of Education, Primestars, and Northam Platinum Mines, we are helping to close that gap. Our goal is to ignite learners’ passion for STEAM careers and equip them with the capabilities our economy urgently needs.”
The launch included a stakeholder walk-about at Botlhabelo High School, where partners assessed infrastructure needs such as connectivity, science laboratory capacity and access to learning resources. The engagement forms part of a broader effort to identify further opportunities to strengthen the school’s learning environment.
“This initiative is not just about academic performance; it is about opening doors to dignity, unlocking potential, and empowering long-term economic participation. By investing in these learners today, we are investing in the future of our sector and our country,” said Gabby Nxumalo, Chief: People and Brand at RMA.
The STEAM Project forms part of RMA’s broader social impact strategy to expand access to education, build technical skills and strengthen economic participation in communities where opportunity has historically been limited.
