PROTEC STEM

PROTEC (Programme for Technological Careers) is a national, independent, non-profit organisation that provides holistic, high-quality education and career support programme development in the fields of Mathematics, Science, Technology, English, and World of Work life skills training. We also run an impactful teacher support programme in many of the programme’s feeder schools. Our work can be evaluated against our vision to be a leading service provider within the STEM education sectors, contributing to an increase in the technologically skilled human resource pool in South Africa and promoting lifelong learning. PROTEC’s head office is based in Randburg, Johannesburg, and it has a network of nine branches and seven projects in six provinces throughout the country. Management and staff PROTEC employs 23 full-time staff members in Johannesburg and 10 in our provincial branches, which make up the national network and are managed by locally employed branch managers who are accountable to local community boards. PROTEC employs approximately 191 part-time tutors/ facilitators. PROTEC Projects are managed by local education centres in partnership with PROTEC nationally. History In 2022, PROTEC is celebrating 40 years of successful educational and career preparation support for high school students throughout the country. PROTEC was established in 1982 in Soweto by a group of concerned engineers from the South African Institute of Civil Engineers, specifically to help high school children in disadvantaged communities prepare for successful careers in sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The programme launched with 67 students, and since then it has provided opportunities for over 30 000 students to pursue engineering, science, technology, and a wide range of related careers. The early success of the project led to PROTEC’s expansion into a national programme, and later included the addition of the teacher support programme.