Education is the motor that drives our society and prepares the economy for the future
– Iika Horstmeier, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Human Resources of BMW Group
Midrand, South Africa – BMW SA will build a brand-new school in Ga-Rankuwa. The R113m school will accommodate 1600 pupils from grade RRR to Grade 12, and supports the company’s vision of life-long learning.
The new school will close the gap between the company’s Early Learning Centre at Plant Rosslyn and its graduate and training programmes, and makes the concept of life-long learning with BMW possible.
The investment underlines BMW Group South Africa’s continued commitment to education and to the communities of Soshanguve and Ga-Rankuwa, where so many BMW Group Plant Rosslyn associates live. In co-operation with the Gauteng Department of Education a site has been located and construction is expected to begin in 2021.
BMW Group SA is currently reaching out to education experts to partner with us on the project. Fees at the school will be benchmarked to other schools in the area and linked to average incomes in the neighbourhood the school will serve.
Education at the heart of BMW Group SA’s commitment to South Africa
Education, training and skills development are at the heart of BMW Group’s activities in South Africa. In 2018 year the company opened a R73m Training Academy at Plant Rosslyn, and at Midrand head office in April 2019, a brand-new R109m Dealer Training Centre was opened to support our retail network partners.
We have a dream of people taking their life-long journey of education with BMW, from pre-school to a graduate programme and on-the-job learning
– Tim Abbott, CEO: BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa
Additionally, BMW Group South Africa is handing over 20 BMW X3s to schools, universities and science centres around the country. The first car was handed over to Soshanguve Automotive School of Specialisation in May 2019, with another six following over the course of 2019. The remaining cars will be distributed over the course of the year.
A long-term commitment to Education in South Africa
“Education is the motor that drives our society and prepares the economy for the future” emphasized Ilka Horstmeier, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Human Resources of BMW Group.
Tim Abbott, CEO: BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa said this was “one of the most exciting projects we’ve ever embarked upon in this country”.
“We have a dream of people taking their life-long journey of education with BMW, from pre-school to a graduate programme and on-the-job learning. We’ve supported more than 140 schools across the country over the years, but this project plugs that gap permanently,” Mr Abbott said.The BMW Group is committed to improving education worldwide.
