Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has joined the publisher Bookboon.com's mission to end students' struggle to finance their studies and reduce South Africa's high university drop out rates. The bank has teamed up with the publisher to bring free academic textbooks to South African students. Thanks to free textbooks, South African students are able to save on average R8 800 per year.

Bookboon.com is a book publishing house specialised in offering free textbooks for students. Through local companies who help sponsor the initiative, South African students are able to access high quality textbooks for free.

Step in right direction

The high university drop-out rates are an enormous problem in South Africa. Figures from the Council for Higher Education show that 40% of students who enrol in higher education institutions never graduate. Apart from the tuition fee, students face costs for their books, accommodation, food and transportation. "South Africa needs highly educated people for economic growth and to fight poverty. We believe that reducing expenses by offering free textbooks is a step in the right direction. Bookboon allows us to help make an impact in this arena," says Ilka Dunne from RMB.

Bookboon's country manager for South Africa James van der Westhuizen is delighted. "This year we opened our South African office and are steadily reaching more students. Thanks to RMB we have the opportunity to expand our collection and publish more books which are specifically written for students in South Africa."