Axium Education aims to raise student achievement in rural South African communities.
Axium Education is based in the rural village of Zithulele in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The village is located - from an educational perspective - in a country that is underperforming compared to its poorer neighbours on international assessments, in one of this country’s worst performing provinces, in a former homeland area characterized by the worst socioeconomic deprivation, and within this homeland in some of the worst performing districts.
CONTEXT
77%
Unemployment in the area is at
8%
less than
1 in 4
of people in the district have a secondary school qualification.
45%
of students say they NEVER have access to a place that is safe from violence or abuse.
grade 1 learners make it through the rural system to grade 12.
Of those that do,
2%
of learners finish school with exit results that allow them to access meaningful tertiary study.
9%
of households have access to electricity.
We believe that there are vast amounts of untapped potential in every rural student, teacher, community and school.
Our vision is to see that potential realised so that every rural student leaves school with purpose, agency and options.
VISION
WHO WE ARE
Axium Education is led by South Africans Michelle and Craig Paxton. Besides being passionate educators they have extensive experience internationally and in the corporate world.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
""WHAT COMPELS US IS NOT JUST THAT THERE IS A TREMENDOUS INJUSTICE AND CHALLENGE, BUT THAT THERE IS IMMENSE POTENTIAL IN EVERY RURAL STUDENT, TEACHER AND COMMUNITY MEMBER SIMPLY WAITING TO BE UNLOCKED."
- Craig & Michelle Paxton (co-founders)
STUDENT FOCUS
SCHOOL & TEACHER FOCUS
RESEARCH & ADVOCACY
While large-scale systemic change is necessary and a priority of Axium Education, we also recognize the need for more urgent student-focused intervention and support.
Building strong rural schools is the key to longer term systemic change.
There are many common challenges facing these schools as a result of systemic and structural issues that are well beyond our control.
Axium Education employs local community members to run education intervention programs.
OUR STORY SO FAR...
15 years of pioneering work in improving rural education
82% of our students passed Grade 12 in 2023
the number of students graduating with a mathematics & science bachelor pass has
increased fivefold
our school leadership communities of practice
strengthen over
33 schools
30 500 sandwiches provided yearly so that our learners can focus on learning and not on their empty stomaches
over 2687 children have regular access to books through our community-based reading clubs
our work directly impacts
6265 rural learners
169 volunteers & visitors have come from far and wide to advance our mission
Today we are proud to have over 80 Axium alumni studying at competitive universities across South Africa.
THEIR COURSES COVER A BROAD RANGE OF FIELDS...
Mzimasi - Axium class of 2013
Medicine
Cuba
Yanga - Axium class of 2015
Medicine
University of the Witwatersrand
Elliot - graduate of 2016
Nursing
Nelson Mandela University
Umthombo bursary
Mbuyekezi - Axium class of 2015
Actuarial Science
University of Cape Town
Eviwe - Axium class of 2014
BSc in Physics & Astro physics
University of the Free State
Sibusile - Axium class of 2015
Bachelor of Science
University of Cape Town
REAP bursary
Bahle - graduate of 2017
Quantity Surveying
Durban University of Technology
Aphelele - Axium class of 2014
Biotechnology
University of the Western Cape
REAP bursary
Lindile - Axium class of 2015
Accounting
Walter Sisulu University
SAICA bursary
Qhayiya - Axium class of 2021
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Walter Sisulu University
Masonele - Axium class of 2022
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Walter Sisulu University
Liyabona - Axium Class of 2023
BSc Physiotherapy
University of Cape Town
JOIN US
We need your help.
Here's how you can get involved.
Your money is meaningful.
Partner with us from across the globe by donating once-off or on a monthly basis.
Serve. Learn. Explore.
Volunteers enhance the work we do, help to spread the message of rural education and gain perspective.
Your skills are needed.
Opportunities to work for Axium become available from time to time so please keep an eye on the page.