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“The support from ORT SA and all partners involved cannot be overemphasized & deserves loud resounding applause!”

“The support from ORT SA and all partners involved cannot be overemphasized & deserves loud resounding applause!”

by | Dec 7, 2018 | Uncategorized

                                                              Abridged speech to teachers, pupils and guests                                                                                    by Ms Maureen Mthimunye, Director in the office of the DDG, Gauteng Dept of Education (GDE)                                                                           at the ORT SA/Nedbank STEM function       28 November 2018

  “ Making Things Happen for Future Generations”

“Who is the future Generation? Is it not the children and learners in our communities and schools? Then the future is here! We must create a new integrated, agile, sustainable and lifelong education system, that matches the needs of the future generation.

Studies are showing that millions of technology jobs will remain unfilled because of the lack of skilled workers, of course other jobs will be outsourced to automation.

Making things to happen can no longer be delayed or postponed. It is urgent for policy makers to look for an education system that will equip learners with the knowledge and the skills of the 21st Century, relevant to the transforming world.

Critical thinking, problem solving, working collaboratively and communication to name just a few are some of the skills required. Coding and Robotics can do that.

You have seen the work done by the learners [at the event] as you moved around their exhibitions. Our learners are smart. The projects are evidence of that. I constantly remind my teams that out learners are smart. All we need is to find the mechanisms that unlock that smartness.  We need to find in the classroom, teaching and learning that provides opportunities for these learners to unleash what they are good and excelling on.

Gauteng is currently transforming the education space through innovative classrooms, technology devices for the learners and educators, Schools of Specialisation are the future this country needs.

We believe in teachers embracing skills such as Coding, we know this could have taken a lot of your time over and above your usual teaching and learning hours in your schools. You have in your efforts put aside the fears about working with Technology,

Your classroom will not be the same as yesterday, a total shift from book knowledge to high quality learning in the classroom, through Projects based learning, research, practical learning experiences of Mathematics, Science, Technology and Engineering subjects to mention a few.

Indeed you, [ORT SA]  have created a new integrated, agile, sustainable and life long education practice competencies that matches the needs of the future generations.

As the GDE, we want to truly convey our gratitude to the ORT SA CEO, Ariellah Rosenburg, the whole team of management and facilitators. All the schools, the managers, educators and learners involved in Coding are a huge milestone achieved in our province.

Thank you.”

 

 

 

 

DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF 20% FOR MATHS

DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF 20% FOR MATHS

by | Dec 14, 2016 | Uncategorized

CEO of ORT SA, Ariellah Rosenberg writes:

The Department of Education’s recent circular, allowing schools to promote Grades 7-9 pupils with math scores of only 20% and abandoning the 40% required pass rate without providing any remedial programme or specialised teachers’ training is jeopardising these children for life! It also endangers the average and above-average student who will be compromised by poorer teaching of maths due to less coverage of curricula, lower expectations and incompetent delivery. The reality is that teachers will have to cope with more diverse groups of competency in maths without having the skills or the knowledge to manage these discrepancies.

Mathematics may be considered a compulsory subject for certain professions and businesses but Math is not only a subject that is required for engineers, mathematicians and medical doctors, but for working out a recipe, figuring out which is the best deal without being taken for a ride, getting a loan, painting your house, shopping, starting a business and having the freedom to a broad career path. How, with a proficiency of 20% in maths, can one accomplish any of these proficiently?

Mathematics provides logic and critical thinking skills and most importantly, problem solving skills that are required for life. Government should aim at ensuring that children have a good grounding in mathematics as it will equip them for their future. With 20% maths proficiency, we are setting these children up for failure and in reality, promoting the legacy of apartheid education by expanding the gap of opportunities and pushing away equal education!

All key stakeholders must come together to help solve this pressing issue. Government, teachers unions, teachers, parents, children, academic institutions, NGO’s and the corporate world must all work coherently to find a solution. Options to resolving this issue should include remedial math programmes for poor performers and suitable teacher training.

For South Africa to become economically competitive, mathematics is crucial for economic development and for technological progress. Unless mathematics education is improved, the country will remain behind in terms of education, innovation, achievement and economic growth.

ORT SA Maths Programmes have been implemented successfully in hundreds of previously disadvantaged schools, showing significant improvement of learners’ performance and teachers’ pedagogical knowledge. ORT SA Maths adopts international best-practices and models.