Visit of Dr. Zola Skweyiya, the S.A. High Commissioner in the U.K.

The Protea Education Development Project Chairman, Danny Gallagher, hosted a visit by Dr. Zola Skweyiya, the S.A. High Commissioner in the U.K. to two of the ZSP schools.

Dr. Zola Skweyiya visited Sonwabo Primary in Gugulethu and Mzamomhle Primary in Phillipi where he was able to see the impact of this Project on the schools, and the wider communities, for himself.

Staff and learners from the schools proudly talked about the changes  and showed how lessons have improved since the introduction of the technology and the e-literacy and IT curriculum training. Dr. Skweyiya was very impressed with the development at both schools. He talked to some of  the staff at Sonwabo, where he reflected on his early days growing up in Gugulethu. Dr. Skweyiya shared his appreciation of how he has seen the school and its community being uplifted through the Zisukhanyo Schools Project.

Curriculum innovation: sharing the success.

Recently Sonwabo Primary hosted a visit by a delegation of Eastern Cape Education Department officials and principals. The Western Cape Education Department had invited the delegation to Sonwabo Primary  to showcase how the school was successfully using technology to assist with their numeracy programme.

After a short explanation about ZSP from one of the ZSP Team, the delegation moved into the computer centre.

Mthuthuzeki, Sonwabo Primary's ICT Champion, explained how the ZSP IT Numeracy programme ran at Sonwabo and what impact it had made on both the staff and learners.There were many questions as the visitors were clearly interested to see how well the technology had been integrated into the curriculum. The delegation were also impressed that despite all the distractions the learners in the computer centre kept working on their numeracy exercises!

What they saw in action really made an impact on all of the Eastern Cape visitors, "I was blown away" was one of the comments.

"Do you want me to email that?"

One year ago, most of the educators at Sonwabo Primary had never used a computer. This time last year the ZSP Team ran training during the school holidays to familiarise the educators with their new technology:  2010 ZSP beginner training

Now in 2011 after a year of support and training...what is the verdict of the staff?

After school I talked to Mrs Nomfundo (left) and Mrs Guga (centre) who were both confidently inputting their grades into their reports. Here are their thoughts..

Mrs Guga..
Mrs Guga was so proud to call herself  "William's oldest pupil"  (William is the ZSP ICT Facilitator for Sonwabo).
" Last year I had to hand write all my reports, now I can type them myself" ( see below!)

Mrs Nomfundo..
"Before (training) I had a computer at home, but I couldn't use it. Now I take my work home using my memory stick."

" It's nice to be independent and do my own work (using the computer)"
When asked what she had thought one year ago, "I never dreamed that I would be able to do this"

Overhead while Mrs Nomfundo and Mrs Guga were working "Do you want me to email that?". After further questioning, Mrs Nomfundo explained she was now the proud user of a gmail account.

Using ICT to assist with their admin had gone from being a dream to a confident reality!

Congratulations to Mr Dyasi, Sonwabo Primary