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Axium Education aims to raise student achievement in rural South African communities.

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CONTEXT

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.
VISION
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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

Senior grade mathematics,

science & careers

Early grade Literacy & Numeracy

PROGRAMS

Guidance, applications, bursaries & skills development

Researching

solutions for systemic change

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Transition years in mathematics & English

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Closing gaps & building skills in Mathematics

PROGRAMS
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WHO WE ARE

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.

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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

JOIN US

We need your help.

Here's how you can get involved.

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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.

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Your skills are needed.

 

Opportunities  to work for Axium become available from time to time so please keep an eye on the page.

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