I’m continuing my EDU-tour in South Africa. Yesterday, I visited LEAP Science and Maths Schools, and it really triggered something in me.
It is a unique global case of social entrepreneurship. They take kids from the toughest social backgrounds and give them two things:
- Hard skills: Rigorous Mathematics and Tech.
- Soft skills: Emotional intelligence and self-confidence.
Why did this resonate with me? Because I saw a mirror of what we do. We offer the exact same mix: IT disciplines backed by a fundamental approach and Math. This combination is exactly what guarantees these kids will be in demand in the future.
But here is the main point. There is a constant conflict in education. Every school (and every teacher) dreams of working with "stars" - strong, motivated kids. They are easy to teach, they boost statistics, and they are easy to be proud of. A struggling student is often seen as a "problem" that ruins the metrics. Many schools try to get rid of them.
That is not our philosophy. At LEAP, I confirmed that our strategy is right. We build an environment. In the right ecosystem, even a student who isn't a "star" starts to develop—simply because of the atmosphere of creation and the safety of making mistakes.
We don't expel a child just because they are struggling or lagging behind.
My position is simple: I’d rather have a kid sitting in our class, "stuck" on a coding problem and taking 3x longer to solve it, than have them out on the streets, hanging out with the wrong crowd.
As long as they are with us, they are safe, they are busy, and they are absorbing a culture of growth. Sooner or later, that effort turns into results.