GDE (Gauteng Department of Education)- D9, UNISA

ORT SA has joined forces with ABSA in a bid to improve the levels of learners’ achievements in Science in primary schools in Ivory Park.

The project targets primary schools in the following manner:

• Workshops, support and mentoring for 26 Science Intermediate Phase (Grades 4-6) educators in UNISA’s ACE Science programme.
• 30 Foundation Phase (Grades 1-3) educators will undergo ORT’s SETA Accredited course in Science and Technology.
• Relevant representatives of the Gauteng Department of Education will be part of the programmes, thereby not only building GDE capacity but also ensuring complete synergy with GDE strategy and sustainability of this project.

Unisa is contributing towards the university fees.

GDE (Gauteng Department of Education)- D9, UNISA

Addressing teaching at Intermediate and Senoir phase, ORT facilitates an ACE qualification in rural and peri-urban areas in Gauteng. ORT works in partnership with higher education institutions such as UNISA together with the GDE. To date ORT has facilitated formal ACE qualifications for 455 learners.

This project involves 17 schools in Ivory park area. During 2009, 33 Intersen Phase educators will carry on their studies in ACE in Mathematics and receive tutoring and classroom based support by ORT SA. GDE District 9 facilitators have been an integral part and an important partner in the project. Their involvement with monitoring training and being part of training is of great value and is a pivotal factor in ensuring sustainability.

This project is partly funded by Unisa who is contributing for the university fees. Future proposal for funding for second year support by ORT SA is to be followed up this year with the funder.

Gauteng Department of Education

This project involves all 12 primary schools in Alexandra township, focusing on Numeracy training for Foundation Phase teachers. We are supporting teachers with a structured programme using two textbook series, a Singapore series in English and a local series in the various home languages applicable to each school.

We have begun by working mainly with Grade 1 teachers and supporting them in their classrooms. The project will move on to work with the educators in Grade 2’s in the next year and the 3’s in the following year and provide support for Grade 1, 2 and 3 educators over the next two years. Teachers have been very enthusiastic with excellent attendance at workshops and a willingness to learn.

Gauteng Department of Education

The project entails the SEED model where Makhorane Primary school in Soweto is the anchor school with outreach to 18 more primary schools in the area.

The school is currently in the process of Whole School Evaluation, targeting the ten areas of the school’s operation as identified by the DOE.

Math, Technology and Foundation Phase teachers at the school receive intensive support from ORT’s facilitator.

31 Mathematics teachers are being supported in ACE Math by ORT SA facilitator. 28 Foundation Phase teachers participate in a SETA accredited course in “Facilitating Life Skills Learning programme in the foundation phase” integrated with Science and Technology.

27 Technology teachers take part in a Technology course aiming at enhancing their knowledge and equipping them with practical skills and resources to implement Technology in the classroom.

King David Linksfield Junior and Primary, King David Victory Park and King David Sandton schools are the recipient schools of the SEED Project.

Regular workshops in technology have been conducted in the above schools in 2006/7 and during this year.

In 2007 workshops were offered to surrounding Jewish Day schools as part of the projects outreach. These schools included Hirsh Lyons, Yeshiva College and Torah Academy.

Technology has been established in an integrated manner and Technology Days are scheduled in each school every term to ensure implementation.

Technology leaders at each school are part of a Technology Forum facilitated by ORT SA to assist and ensure the subject of Technology is applied in a sustainable manner.

The Yeshiva College project has highlighted the real need for teachers to acquire basic computers skills. The teachers were on two very different levels beginners and intermediate. The beginners were very new to computers and needed more intensive training and now feel more confident. The intermediate on the other hand have grasped the basics and progressed tremendously.

All teachers enjoy the course and are keen to apply the integration of computers in their teaching.

We are currently meeting with teachers individually to ensure implementation of computers in their daily work. This is the ultimate objective of the programme.