Zisukhanyo Schools Project Review Board, April 2014.

ZSP 2013 results: Grade 6 Mathematics – Average pass percentage for Systemic Tests and Annual National Assessments

 

The Systemic Tests are implemented by the Western Cape Education Deaprtment and the Annual National Assessments are implemented by the National Department of Basic Education.

Progress towards achieving the ZSP Strategic Project Objectives.

EMASA Conference 2013

The Zisukhanyo Schools Project (ZSP) recently received significant recognition, with the bestowal of a major accolade.  The project was adjudged by the Education Management Association of South Africa (EMASA) to be among those projects that have been transformational in terms of their positive impact upon and contribution to education in South Africa.  Danny Gallagher of PEDP, the originator and owner of the ZSP, was invited to present on the achievements of the project at EMASA’s annual conference, which was held at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein on 23^rd-24^th August. 

EMASA was established in 1997 and is the only South African organisation with an exclusive focus on management and leadership in education.    

Criteria for the selection of the projects that were showcased at EMASA’s conference were:

·         Educational transformation and impact

·         Innovation

·         Quality of improvement in teaching/learning processes

·         Collaboration between project stakeholders and beneficiaries

·         Effective monitoring and evaluation processes in place

·         Potential exists for scalability and replication

The selected projects ranged from projects implemented at pre-school level through to projects with a further/higher education and training focus.  The ZSP was selected among those projects in the “Whole School Development” category.    

Three senior members of the Cape Town-based team with responsibility for the implementation of key components of the Zisukhanyo Schools Project also attended the conference.

At the conclusion of the conference, certificates were presented by Ms. Alison Bengtson-Mali, President of EMASA, and Professor Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State, to those who had presented at the conference.          

 

ZSP Review Board

A new curriculum

The National Education Department implemented a new curriculum,CAPS (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements) in 2012. The ZSP IT Numeracy Programme was aligned to CAPS to allow teachers to have a smooth transition into this new curriculum structure.

For Term 1, the Zisukhanyo Schools Project achieved an average of 92% completion of all CAPs aligned IT Numeracy lessons. This percentage was achieved despite schools attending the District Sports Events that are held in Term 1.

All Intermediate Phase learners (grades 4,5 & 6) completed CAPS term assessment online at the end of Term 1. The assessment allowed educators to monitor the progress of each child.

Busy learners.

Although it is the last week of Term 1, these grade 3 learners at Jamaica Way Primary School are still busy with their IT Numeracy lesson.

In memory of Mthuthuzeli Ngqongqo,

teacher extraordinaire, Sonwabo Primary ZSP Champion.

ZSP Review Board: The District Director's Perspective

ZSP Review Board

On the 10th October, 71 people attended the Stages II & III Review Board.( Control Board April 2012, Control Board August 2011) Attendees included Principals and ICT Champions, WCED officials, Project stakeholders, Project Implementation Team and the Project Owner.

The feedback from one attendee was " The Review Board gatherings are so uplifting and it is always a pleasure to be part of the audience".

We will be highlighting video clips from a couple of the speeches in a later post.

Saturday morning - must be time for class!

As you can see in the picture, over 40 learners and 3 staff at Die Duine Primary were very busy with their Mathematics lesson in the computer centre.


Look again - the learners are not in uniform because this picture was taken during a Saturday morning lesson. The teachers and learners are taking every opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Annual National Assessment exams, even coming to school on a Saturday.

The learners enjoy learning Mathematics through the use of ICT, as you can see from the full room. During this session learners were able to practise exemplar exam questions, each working at their own pace. The questions are automatically marked allowing immediate feedback for the teachers and learners.

We wish them and all learners "Happy learning".

Electronic whiteboard training for educators.

One year on...

It is encouraging to see learners using the technology. It is obvious from the video that technology promotes learner concentration and engagement.

But is this intervention helping the learners learn?

The information below is from a selection of Grade 6 learners from one of the schools in the Zisukhanyo Schools Project. It shows a snap shot of what they could accomplish in Feburary 2011 and then again in May 2012.

The sums they are doing are set at the appropriate level of difficulty and we have only recorded the correct answers. The results speak for themselves.

Voices from the ZSP schools

This video was shown at the ZSP Stage II &II Control Board.

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.

ZSP Control Board

On Wednesday 18th April, 81 delegates joined together to review the progress of the ZSP Stage II and Stage III schools against the Strategic Objectives. The delegates consisted of representatives from the 20 schools in the ZSP family, 22 Education Department officials, Project partners, ZSP Team and the Project owner.

It was a very encouraging and uplifting event, where the progress at the schools was clearly highlighted by the various speakers. There will be more feedback from the Control Board in future posts.

CCA training - March 2012

During the school break the Computer Centre Assistants (click for more info) received  two days of training from the ZSP Team. This training provided  support for the CCAs in developing their role in the Computer Centre and a chance for personal reflection and  goal setting. There was an opportunity for  CCAs to share their experiences and even some advice.

IT Numeracy programme - best practice workshops

The ZSP Team held three workshops for  educators who are delivering the ZSP IT Numeracy programme at their schools. There were separate workshops for grade 4, 5 and 6 educators. The aim of the workshops was to allow educators to ask questions, share their experiences and strategies for teaching and for the ZSP Team to provide detailed curriculum and pedagogical advice.

74 educators from 16 ZSP schools attended over the three days. Educators really appreciated discussing different aspects of the IT Numeracy programme;  planning, delivery, assessments and intervention strategies; with colleagues from different schools.

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.

Integration is the key to success.