SUPPORT TO TERTIARY EDUCATION PROGRAMME (STEP)

STEP aims to:

• Provide FINANCIAL support for students from low-income families.
• Provide EDUCATIONAL support for students.
• Provide CAPACITY BUILDING in institutions to enable participating institutions to cope with the task of student development. Or rather
• Build resource CAPACITY in participating institutions, enabling them to cope with the task of student development
• Encourage COLLABORATION and (what exchange?) exchange among participating institutions.

These aims are achieved through funding specific programmes that address the above needs. These include Work Study, Writing Centres, Research Programmes, and Academic Development Programmes.

1. ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

These prepare first time students for entry into mainstream academic university study in a variety of disciplines such as Mathematics, Computer Literacy, Physics, Chemistry, Statistics, Language, Accountancy, and Study and Critical Thinking Skills. They improve the academic performance of students, thus lowering the high drop out and failure rates among students. These programmes also train students in website development and database management.

2. WRITING CENTRES

Writing Centres provide assistance to undergraduate and post-graduate students who have language problems, especially those for whom English is a second language. As a result students improve the quality of their academic writing and study skills. Research and development in the area of writing and language is encouraged.

3. RESEARCH PROGRAMMES

Through these programmes, students are taught how to conduct research, building much needed research skills in undergraduate and post graduate students. They also enhance the capacity of lecturers to participate in meaningful research.