This year’s International Women’s Day theme called for action to unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all, with a particular focus on young women as catalysts for lasting change. Liberty, through its focused attention on education, particularly Mathematics, Science and English support at schools, is proud to have produced a cohort that saw an increased number of female students come through its programmes in 2024. This is through the company’s continued support of the Kutlwanong Centres and the eduCate programmes.
In 2024, 241 Liberty-supported learners gained admission to universities and the following statistics are notable in this group:
University Admissions:
65.1% of the Liberty-supported learners who are now registered university students are female, indicating a significant shift in gender representation in higher education.
STEM Career Choices:
94.6% of these registered students from the Liberty supported programmes have chosen STEM-related careers, with 54.3% of those pursuing Engineering Sciences being female. This underscores the impact of Liberty’s efforts in driving female participation in high-demand STEM fields.
Top Universities:
64.7% of these Liberty-supported learners are placed in South Africa’s top five universities, providing talented young women (and men) with world-class education and opportunities to excel.
“Our efforts to empower young people in general are deliberate, but the uptake by female students of traditionally male dominated spaces is inspiring. We are encouraged that our young girls are making bold moves to take up space in Maths and Science. “says Noma Matjila, Head of Corporate Social Investment at Liberty.
“Liberty remains deeply committed to efforts that underscore the empowering of girls and women through education. By equipping young women with the skills and knowledge to thrive in STEM fields, Liberty is not just reshaping individual futures – we are challenging systemic barriers and building a more equitable society.” concludes Matjila
