22nd August: a day in pictures

From vision to reality

Danny Gallagher, Chairman of Protea Education Development Project and Zisukhanyo Schools Project Owner, is currently visiting the Stage II & Stage III schools.


Danny has been able to see how his original vision for this Project, as shown by the Strategic Objectives, is now being realised by the ZSP schools and Team.

The slideshow shows the Strategic Objectives in action:

" I got more today than I did yesterday !"

Term 3 started this week and at all of the ZSP Schools learners were hard at work with their numeracy lessons in the Computer Centres.

During a Grade 4 multiplication lesson in the Computer Centre at St Mary's Primary, Asheeqah George (pictured right) stopped William Page (ZSP Facilitator) and proudly announced   

" I got more today than I did yesterday" .

One of the Project's Strategic Objectives is " Assistance to be provided in raising standards of literacy and numeracy". This proud comment from Asheeqah shows that it is vital to motivate and encourage learners to take ownership of their learning if progress is to be made.

Technology is not the only intervention that can be used to raise numeracy and literacy standards, but when it is thoughtfully integrated into the curriculum and used with accountability, technology can be a very powerful tool.

Well done Asheeqah!!

Mandela Day: Perseverance leads to success...

On Mandela Day, a story of how it often takes many people working together all willing to 'go the extra mile' for progress to occur..

Ziphelele Mdlalo (ZSP Computer Centre Assistant) reported that the server and some devices were crashing at Sonwabo Primary School. Daniel Aylen (ZSP Technician) went to the school and examined the devices. His extensive testing led him to discover that the voltage coming into the school was fluctuating greatly, with some of the power supply having a very low voltage and some a high voltage.

The ZSP Team contacted Alfred Sieberts (local electrical contractor) to get a official report on the school's power supply. He confirmed Daniel's diagnosis and also explained that this problem was affecting the local community in addition to Sonwabo Primary School.

William Page (ZSP Facilitator) shared the findings and the electrical report with the school management and as a result Mthuthu Ngqongqo (School ZSP Champion) visited the local City of Cape Town offices to report the fault.

After three days there had been no response, so Mario Rhode (ZSP Facilitator) visited the local City of Cape Town offices in person to present the electrical report and chase up a response.

The next day City of Cape Town electrical contractors were repairing the power supply to the local community!

It took team work, persistence and determination to not only solve the problem at Sonwabo Primary but benefit the school's local community in Gugulethu.

School Management Team training, Stage I schools

The ZSP Team ran two days of training for the School Management Teams of Eastville, Liesbeeck and Mitchell Heights Primary schools during the first week of the school holidays.

There were a variety of different sessions that explored issues including planning a whole school IT numeracy program, target setting, using IT to promote mental mathematics and evaluating the data produced.

The session varied from group problem solving, ZSP facilitator led school focus groups, Q&A and a practical session using the technology. There was even a guest appearance by the 'ZSP Players' role playing how to plan an IT numeracy curriculum!

The feedback from the schools involved was very positive. Staff appreciated the opportunity to explore, discuss, plan and seek guidance from the ZSP Team on all issues involved in managing a successful school ICT program.

In their own words: A learner's perspective (part 2)

This video is of Juliana from Sonwabo Primary, explaining how the ZSP technology at her school has impacted upon her learning experience.

The second video is of Luke, a learner at Jamaica Way Primary. He is showing his expertise at a mental maths exercise! Would you be that quick to answer questions on the times tables?

Can you see the changes?

I hope that you have been following the progress at the Stage III schools as their infrastructure evolves.

Here are the highlights from this week.

In their own words: A learner's perspective (part 1)

This is Stephen from Thomas Wildschutt Senior, his own words with no scripting!

You can also see this video here on You Tube.

Don't waste even a minute...

Learners at Thomas Wildschutt Senior are taking full advantage of their technology. Normally interval is a break from studying, a chance to relax. Not at this school!

The learners love using the computers so much that the Computer Centre is full for every interval. If you don't get to the Computer Centre quickly - you could miss out.

You may think the learners just want to play- far from it. Learners are taking the time to research information for projects, design and produce documents or even more impressively...practise their numeracy speed tests.

It is so exciting to see young people so enthused about learning.



Visit from our Funder

Mary Healy, Executive Director of the Human Dignity Foundation visited the ZSP Team and schools last week. The Human Dignity Foundation is the main funder for the Project.