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Science Maths And Technology Education
(SMATE) and Specialisations
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Sifikile Project Extension
– the provision of computers to schools in the Eastern
Cape
This ABSA funded project started three years ago with
an initial donation of 250 computers. During 2005/6, 21
schools in the Eastern Cape were provided with computers
and refresher courses on computer training for teachers.
Computer specialist Lulama Jack also visited each school
to make sure everything was functioning correctly. Faulty
equipment was replaced and on-site technical support was
arranged. In addition, three schools had electricity installed,
as they couldn’t afford to do this themselves. Each
school was encouraged to introduce a Computer Literacy
Learner Development Plan and to implement a structured
computer literacy programme. Each school was given 12-
15 computers and the necessary accessories and software. |
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Caltex gives energy to NMMU’s Science
Maths and Technology Education projects
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| Science, Maths and Technology
Education (SMATE) has received a major boost in six provinces.
Caltex (now the Chevron Group) have donated over R 500
000 to NMMU, so that the SMATE Department can train teachers
in these subjects in these six provinces. Some teachers
have been awarded their B Ed degrees and others have completed
their Masters Degrees in Science Education and Educational
Management. They are now able to pass this knowledge on
to learners in rural areas where there was previously
no access to this type of information.
The Amathole Cluster Schools Development Programme was
aimed at improving the number of learners studying higher-grade
mathematics in the FET band, the standard of learner attainment
in higher-grade mathematics, and the qualifications and
competence of teachers teaching these learners mathematics.
The Family Maths Programme provided support to the community
by offering creative education practices for maths - reaching
teachers, parents, learners and community members. The
Family Maths Domestic Workers Project in the Eastern Cape
catered for twenty domestic workers who tackled basic
numeracy activities. The Cluster Schools Development Project
in the Rustenberg district of the North West Province
involved teachers in regular workshops that focused on
developing their pedagogical-content knowledge, appropriate
materials, assessment strategies, developing shared and
standardised tests, and monitoring learner progress in
either mathematics or English.
The Ripple Programme involved teaching leader-learners
science and mathematics, which they could ripple back
into their classrooms. The Scientific Literacy Project
focused on reading, discussing, doing, arguing, writing
and presenting aspects of the scientific endeavor. The
Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (Tesol)
programme resulted in five candidates being awarded SIT
Tesol certificates, which enables them to teach English
to foreign language students. |
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Faculty of Education – Service learning
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| The most important function of the Faculty of Education at the NMMU is the training of teachers and staff in related service areas for the Eastern Cape and the eastern part of the Western Cape. In South Africa, integration of higher education institutions is now mandatory. During the Faculty’s re-curriculation process it was decided to use service learning as a vehicle to create bridging social capital. Service learning integrates community service into the academic process. |
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Walmer Township schools project – revamped school hall
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The Walmer-Gqebera Township project, "The sky is the limit" reached a new milestone in 2009 with the opening of the newly revamped Walmer High School hall, decorated with banners made by the students of the township schools and the NMMU School of Architecture.
The multi-tiered "Sky is the Limit" project aims to aid the community in the fight against poverty and social issues, using education as tool in doing so. The project involves three schools in Walmer Township – Walmer High, Walmer Primary and John Masisa Primary. Various tools such as photo-voice technology, which involves the teachers recording thoughts and feelings of a community via photography, as well as newsletters and the production of video-documentaries were used by NMMU project facilitators in the NMMU Centre for Research, Technology and Innovation (CERTI) in the Faculty of Education and various other NMMU departments, in conjunction with teachers and students at these schools.
The revamp of the Walmer High School hall was one of the tiers of the "Sky is the limit" project. The school hall has been redecorated with the help of the NMMU School of Architecture and students from the school. Walmer High School has committed to maintaining the hall so that it can be used as a gathering place for them and the broader community. |
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