Since emerging from the stronghold of apartheid in the 1990s, South Africa's black community continues to struggle with the aftershocks -- a high unemployment rate, widespread poverty and insufficient provision of quality social services. In addition to the rampant spread of HIV/AIDS, these factors together have stymied South Africa's overall development.

As underserved South Africans struggle to overcome roadblocks to equality, they also face the challenge of improving an education system marked by low teacher competency, and high drop-out and grade repetition rates. The condition of math and science education is at a particularly critical point. The lack of funds, insufficient resources and poor instructional proficiency has spawned a generation of under-performing students unable to graduate and/or attain higher paying jobs that require sufficient knowledge of these subjects. In some areas of the country, fewer than half of all black South Africans are enrolled in high school.

To help lift South Africa out of this situation, the Maths Centre for Professional Teachers (MCPT) endeavors to improve the quality of math and science education available to underresourced communities. MCPT provides high-quality learning, instructional materials, teacher training, education centers and continued performance assessments. Founded in 1985, MCPT has established programs in 28 schools in seven South African provinces. Thanks to Oracle's support, MCPT will offer quality math education to 2,000 children and ensure that 600 at-risk students stay in school and successfully pass to the next grade.