rural education access programme (reap)

The Rural Education Access Programme assists carefully selected matriculants from poor rural communities to access tertiary education. Incorporated into this assistance is a comprehensive support programme for the duration of their undergraduate studies.

The Programme objective is that poor, but academically able young women and men from rural areas gain access to Higher Education and receive the support needed to attain a useful qualification.

The acquisition of skills and competencies will enable them to escape marginalisation and poverty and be economically productive. Through the student development programme REAP seeks to build independence, confidence and an ethos of service to the community.  

Currently there are 350 students on the Programme with half of these being female students. Students come from all provinces of South Africa. They are studying for a variety of undergraduate degrees and national diplomas at many state institutions of Higher Education.

To date REAP students have achieved an annual promotion rate of over 80% and over 200 young South Africans have graduated.  

REAP aims to take on between 120 and 150 new, young, academically able rural school leavers in January 2009 and provide continued support to join the students already on the programme, and who will be continuing their studies (between 220 and 240 students).