MasterClass places eThekwini Municipality in Different League

MASTERCLASS

Creating learning spaces for multi-sectoral needs

2018

AREA-BASED MANAGEMENT

25 OCTOBER, 2018 - DURBAN

INTRODUCTION At the conclusion of the Wisehub 2018 International summit, the eThekwini Municipality’s Area-Based Management unit (ABM), proceeded with a tangible next step in response to the core question at the summit: What actions do you want me to hold you accountable for that you will take on the basis of what you now know?

Establishing a MasterClass where the ideas emerging from the summit could immediately be shared with a wider audience, the ABM unit extended invitations to schools in order to explore the idea that, Adjusting with agility requires leading with legacy in mind.

Theophilus van Rensburg Lindzter, founder of the Swedish-based NGO, Learning Academy Worldwide, guided attendees through the explanation of the idea, addressing why the idea is valid and challenging immediate action based on personal accountability.

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LEADERS’ PURSUIT FOR WISDOM Twenty-one leaders from Primary Schools responded to the Area-Based Management MasterClass on 25 October, 2018.

In a remarkably unstructured and unexpected coherence, every Principal represented a Primary School - the very sphere wherein the most impact is possible over a 5-10 year initiative.

It is the beginning of a journey that hold enormous possibilities for the the KZN province, going beyond the hit-and-miss attempts that are often too fragmented and impatient.

In addition, education officers from the eThekwini’s Cleansing and Solid Waster unit attended together with interns from both the South Durban Basin and the New Venture Creation initiative.

I am here to learn how our school can become a wise school.

ALLAN HARMS PRINCIPAL, CHARLES HUGO PRIMARY SCHOOL

WiseCities

MASTER

CLASS

THE IDEA

Adjusting with agility requires leading with legacy in mind

25 October, 2018 Durban

Theophilus van Rensburg Lindzter is an experienced campaigner for leadership & teacher professional development, technology-assisted learning and wisdom-based competence development in the context of quality formal and informal education.

Since 1999, he’s leveraged his global network, from South Africa, to Sweden, the USA, China, Italy and Belgium to lead initiatives for quality education in his country of birth, South Africa. Focusing largely on high-stakes rural communities, he has partnered with individuals, schools, Universities, NGOs, corporate and government agencies in South Africa bringing innovative and frugal mobile learning solutions to deal with the huge deficiencies in literacy.

Founder of Learning Academy Worldwide – a Swedish-based Non-profit learning organization that

Special music by the Kholwa Brothers

oversees literacy improvement projects, he leads the M-Ubuntu, Wisehub and Wise Youth Development projects in several schools in South Africa,

www.durban.gov.za AREA-BASED MANAGEMENT

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REGISTERING TODAY, IMPACT TOMORROW

Akhona Mpangezi

Educator Bonela Primary School

Mthalane Nkosingiphile

Khuthala Primary

Allan Harms

Charles Hugo Primary School

Mzukisi Nqunoze

Bantuvukani Primary School

Batha Masikane

Educator KwaGumbi Primary

N. Ndlovu

CSW

Bheki Ndlovu

Principal Nsimbini Primary

Ngcobo G.N

Teacher Mthombeni Primary

Chamane S.

Principal KwaGumbi Primary

Nguubane B.E

Principal Ngqayizivele Primary School

Cherly Govender

Educator Janagarth RD Primary School

Nolwazi Manikivana

Intern New Venture Creation

Deli Nzshingla

Education

Nomalanga Gumede

Education Officer - DSW

Emeldah Mkhukesi

Education Officer (Cleansing & Solid Waste)

Nomfundo Ngcobo

Journalist

Emihle Nkomo

Intern New Venture Creation

Nompilo Dlamini

Intern New Venture Creation

Esethu Mazaleni

Intern New Venture Creation

Nonhle Njokovane

Educator Ntuthukweni Primary School

Fakazi Nokuthula

Intern SDB

Ntokozo Nsutsha

Mayile Primary School

Gcobo Nokukhanya

Intern New Venture Creation

Ntombikhona Mchunu

Intern New Venture Creation

Hlongwa N.H.L.

Educator Siyathokoza Primary

Pamela Sithole

Khanyakhwezi Primary

Hlophe Sinethemba

Educator Janagarth RD Primary School

Phumelele Thusi

Education

Khanyi Yende

DP Ukukhanya Kwelanga Primary School

Phumla Mbiyozo

Intern SDB

Kid Mbatha

Education

R. Saikoolah

Education

Kunene

Ukukhanya Kwelanga Primary School

Reshmi Maharaj

Educator Janagarth RD Primary School

Maphumulo Thandi

Educator Ekuphileni Primary

Rivia Pillay

Principal of Rosehill Primary

Maureen Mchunu

Education

S.V. Mbambo

Principal Ndlandlama Primary School

Mbuso Sosibo

Bantuvukani Primary School

Sahar Mhlongo

Educator Nsimbini Primary

Mfundo Hlophe

BIT

Sandile Zulu

Bantuvukani Primary School

Ms Mncube

Principal HP Ngwenya Primary School

Sbonelo Xasa

Education

Mthabeleng Moeletsi

Khuthala Primary

Sbongakonke Shangase

Intern SDB

0000003

Shireen Nanjee

DP Bonela Primary School

Sinoyolo Mjungula

Intern New Venture Creation

Siyethemba Jila

Intern SDB

Thandekile Zulu

Intern SDB

Themasile Sithole

Education Officer - DSW

Thokozani Mbutho

HOD Khuthala Primary School

Veriswe Zulu

Education Officer (Cleansing & Solid Waste)

Zandile Magubane

Educator Ndlandlama Primary School

Zanele Gumede

Educator Mayville Primary School

Zibunile Ntombela

Intern New Venture Creation

Zuma L.B.

Educator Saphumelela Primary

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MASTERCLASS MODELS LEARNING

Careful consideration was given to construct the MasterClass sessions with quality learning processes in mind. During the sessions, participants were constantly challenged to reflect over the structure of the learning experience. They were asked to identify elements that could be introduced in their own schools

PROBING QUESTIONS

ALERT PARTICIPANTS

SENSITIVE GROUP INTERACTIONS

Questions that lead to serious reflections were asked to honour the importance on acting on knowledge.

Documenting and noting activities added value for further reflections.

Engaging all through a group activity set the stage for understanding perspectives.

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YOUTH INVOLVEMENT

INSPIRING LIVE MUSIC

CONTEXTUAL INTERACTIONS

Allowing young people to witness and experience the deliberations of adults added valuable insights.

Providing artists to perform by illustrating what learning could look like, provided fertile soil for reflective thinking.

Creating moments for personal reflections and interactions elevated the impact to each delegate’s unique context.

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POINT OF VIEW DEMANDS AGILITY Participants interacted around the Point of View Paradox experiment.

After each of the two groups made observations based on images of two women separately provided to them and then retrieved, they gathered in one space to reflect over a single merged image of the two pictures. Their responses were loudly and enthusiastically shared

as they debated between the oddities they perceived in the opposing groups views. Participants walked voluntarily to the projected image to make their points with great persuasion, took a step back from the image and continued the back-and-forth dialogue with each other. „Aha� moments echoed through the room on several occassions.

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KEY TAKE AWAY / LESSON LEARNT Leaders are in constant need to evaluate the judgements they make on people and situations. The wise leader will reserve judgement and consistently probe for clarity. Such wisdom comes through years of practice but starts with small steps in the early parts of ones leadership responsibilities in school, life, at home and in the public arena.

Leaving a legacy for others means remaining sensitive to the possibility that some matters are not an issue of right or wrong but a matter of point-of-view. Knowing the difference is crucial. The agile leader will know and that knowing will be the result of years and years of practice and discipline.

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THE STRAINS OF THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT DEMANDS AGILITY During the second part of the MasterClass, participants reviewed a set of slides that headlined the difficulties of navigating in the learning environment today given all the obstacles and challenges. The slides presented a field endangered by landmines and as a metaphor for life and work in today’s learning environment. The daunting challenges

required prudent responses, sharpened skills and a constant commitment to reading and the pursuit for meaning, personally and as a group. Such responses will be characterized by the sense that solving problems, instilling meaning and prioritizing dignity are uncompromising priorities for the agile leader who wants to leave a meaningful legacy.

KEY TAKE AWAY / LESSON LEARNT Undoubtedly, leaders will need to read more and find creative ways to abandon habits that delibetate and hinder them from effectiveness and

pursue, in the company of likeminded others, a consistent new habit of training the mind to think differently based on sound knowledge.

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INSIGHTFUL OBSERVATIONS

WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE IDENTIFIED WHEN FACED WITH A PROBING QUESTION ABOUT SOCIETY AND SCHOOL AND WHICH SOLUTIONS THEY OFFERED

WHAT ATTENDEES SAW IN THE KHOLWA BROTHERS AND WISHED WERE PART OF SCHOOL

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RECOMMENDATIONS Four pathways can chart the journey for the next few weeks and over the next year and they are capable to provide a meaningful basis whereupon to help build leaders whose legacy will cary our province and our nation through the challenges of our future.

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EXTEND WISEHUB COMMUNITY

Enlist 21 schools for the give-and-receive initiative of the Wisehub 2019 project plan including the Healthy Schools-, Youth Serve Schools- and Deaf Education Gauntlet Schools initiatives.

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PLAN A PRE-WISEHUB 2019 SUMMIT

Schedule an event during the first quarter of 2019 that will provide opportunity for initial feedback on commitments made define support priorities in preparation for Wisehub 2019 in October.

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SOURCE RESOURCES

Strategize to include Durban University and the eThekwini Municipal Academy as resourced entities to aid research and implementation needs.

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ELEVATE MASTERCLASS FOR UNIQUE MULTI-SECTORAL IMPACT

Over the next 12 months, the Precint Management component of ABM can use the MasterClass idea as pilot to introduce key learning areas into the 21 schools aided by impact studies.

AREA-BASED MANAGEMENT

www.durban.gov.za