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EDUCATION
THE NEWSPAPER
Teachers & Learners
A visit to Cape Academy
Attend SUNCEP Tuition in School Holidays
of Maths and Science Holiday Programme
After the success of its April tuition programmes, the Stellenbosch University (SU) Centre for Pedagogy in the Faculty of Education (SUNCEP) trained and supported teachers and learners in the Western and Northern Cape during the school holidays.
During the school holiday Premier Helen Zille and Minister Debbie Schäfer visited the Cape Academy of Maths and Science Holiday Programme, designed for learners in grades 10 and 11, covering exciting topics such as Robotics, Aviation and an Introduction to Pilot training.
As part of the programme and sponsored by SUNCEP, 180 teachers will also receive Windows tablets. 150 teachers from the Winelands, West Coast, Overberg and North Education Districts in the Western Cape attended these courses on SU’s Stellenbosch campus– offered in full support and assistance of the relevant Departments of Education and their respective districts. These e-learning practice-based professional learning programmes were offered in a blended-learning format. SU’s e-learning strategy is aimed at ensuring that these teachers are ready to implement these new and exciting strategies in their classrooms. This is also in line with the anticipated roll out to establish WiFi zones at various schools in the Western Cape. The aim is to improve teaching and learning in the classroom and to prepare teachers to become part of a global digital teaching environment. The idea of the tablets, loaded with the required modules containing interactive e-lessons, is to further strengthen teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge in Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Science and Natural Science. In addition to its teacher professional learning programmes, SUNCEP is also supporting learners. Its flagship project, Hope@Maties has now been running successfully for the past four years. This programme has already produced outstanding results in ensuring Grade 12 learners improve their marks in gateway subjects, such as Science and Mathematics. Over the past three years, 436 former Hope@Maties students have entered SU alone. Learners who qualify also receive financial support in the form of a Stellenbosch University recruitment bursary. More than 250 learners from all the districts in the Western Cape attended this first opportunity university preparation programme offered at SUNCEP in five different towns in the Western Cape.
Learners from schools in the Metro South Education District attended the programme in conjunction with the Sakhikamva Foundation and the Cape Academy for Maths, Science and Technology. The Sakhikamva Foundation believes that the future of South African aviation lies with the country’s highly talented youth, its mission being to identify and develop this talent in ensuring that a solid foundation is laid to feed the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics pipeline. Last month the Sakhikamva Foundation introduced the World’s first Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Aerospace and Mathematics Laboratory (STREAM) in Tokai. It is set to create a culture of learning in these key subjects and will empower the youth and ultimately create leaders in the field of science and technology. Tommi the aeroplane features an advanced flight simulator with movable control surfaces, creating a realistic flight experience for learners and visitors to the laboratory. Tommi is surrounded by six interactive areas, including a twelve seater SPACE room which has a connection to the International Space Station and Hubble Telescope, an Experimental laboratory, a briefing room, a simulation room and scientific display areas. “It is wonderful to see so many young people actively interested in this holiday programme and what will be required for a career in aviation”, said Premier Zille
Photo Left to Right: Jan Sass (Anne Pienaar Primary School, Malmesbury), Joey Griesel (Natural Sciences (NS) Subject Advisor, Cape Winelands Education District), Michael Hager (NS) Subject Advisor, Metro South Education District), Stephanie Apollis (Laurie Hugo Primary School, Moorreesburg), Pinky Siko (Kayamandi Primary School, Stellenbosch)
In addition to Hope@Maties, Grade 7 - 11 learner support programmes have also been established at centres across all educational districts in the Western Cape. About 350 learners in the Western Cape registered to attend programmes to receive support in Mathematics and Science. These learner support programmes and teacher professional learning programmes are all possible with the support of various funders, the parents of participating learners and the expert tutors and facilitators.
“I was very pleased to see fun activities being enjoyed by learners which simultaneously teach them crucial concepts of maths and science which are vital to our economy”, said Minister Schäfer “The Western Cape government, is working hard to encourage learners to take mathematics and science, which are both gateway subjects for the economic development of our province and our country and of the personal career opportunities of our learners, and we have placed a lot of resources into these subject areas. We need to prepare our youth to be competitive citizens in the mathematical, scientific and technological world.” “This is another outstanding example of how partnerships between NGO’s and government can enable us to make things “Better Together” for the benefit of our learners and our country.”
Western Cape Wins the Minquiz™ 2015 Western Cape Grade 12 learners were crowned Minquiz™ winners on Wednesday, 15 July 2015 at the annual maths and science competition held at Mintek in Randburg. This marks the second victory in three years for the Western Cape Province after having won the competition in 2013 as well. They were awarded first position with 190 points. Kwazulu-Natal came second with 155 points, followed by Gauteng (125 points) Southern Free State (124 points) and North West (90 points). The national winning team comprised of Jethro Fredericks (19) Cape Academy for Maths, Science and Technology , Riccardo Ladu (17) Brackenfell High School, Tae Jun (18) Rondebosch Boys' High School and Jeremy John Henry Wilkinson (17) of Bishops. The Top Learner Platinum and Top Learner Gold prizes were awarded to Ulrik de Muellenaere (18) of Hoȅrskool Waterkloof and Abongile Booi (17) of Vaal Reefs Technical High respectively. “Winning the competition is a big deal. We came with the intention of winning and the fact that we have thrived has done our province well. We take pride in ourselves in maintaining this reputation,” said, Jethro Fredericks. “Having being part of this competition, we learned more about science, engineering and entrepreneurship through the various exhibitions and presentations. I am well developed for the future career choices when I leave school,” commented Fredericks.
Photo Left to Right: Jethro Fredericks, Tae Jun, Riccardo Ladu, and Jeremy John Henry Wilkinson Winners of Minquiz 2015
Addressing learners at the competition, Mintek’s President and CEO, Mr. Abiel Mngomezulu said, “Minquiz paves the way for learners to be the best future scientists and engineers.” He further added that all learners in the competition are champions as they have already won the provincial competitions held earlier in May 2015. Organised by Mintek-South Africa’s minerals and metallurgical research organisation, the aim of Minquiz™ is to promote excellence in Physical science and Mathematics, thereby fostering interest in careers in science, engineering and technology via studies at University.