The introduction of norms and standards for teacher development centres will result in disparities between centres being reduced, thus ensuring that teacher centres are able to operate at optimum levels.
The adoption and implementation of these draft norms and standards is one of the key areas of discussion at a week-long workshop for teacher centre managers taking place in Johannesburg from 11 to 15 August 2014.
The training course, for managers of 131 teacher development centres across South Africa, is designed to assist participants to reflect on what needs to be done to build functional teacher centres and develop competent centre managers. It will expose participants to relevant policy documents, resources, references and functional instruments and tools that will aid in the day-to-day management of the teacher centres. In addition, the integration of new information and communication technologies will also be harnessed to improve the quality of management and delivery of education services at the centres.
Speaking on Sunday 10 August, before the training got underway, Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga told participants that the recent Council of Ministers (CEM) meeting resolved to drastically improve the quality and efficiency of the entire system, but more importantly of teaching and learning.
“In order to achieve this we need to continuously upgrade the content knowledge of our teachers. However, today we are taking a step further - training those in charge of all our Teacher Training Centres,” said Minister Motshekga. “Moreover, our plan foresees teachers who are supported by knowledgeable district officials, including managers of Teacher Centres.”
The strengthening of Teacher Centres is an outcome of the Integrated Strategic Planning Framework for Teacher Education and Development, which emerged from the Teacher Development Summit, held in July 2009, and clearly sets out how teacher development can be strengthened.
With 131 Teacher Centres across South Africa; with at least one Teacher Centre in every education district, Teacher Centres play a critical role as hubs for the professional development of teachers. They are sacred spaces for teachers, principals and subject advisors to access resources and receive the support they need, thus enabling and nurturing the growth of Professional Learning Communities; and for contributing towards the professionalization of the teaching profession. New Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) offer a variety of platforms and opportunities to enrich this strategic role of Teacher Centres.
The training comes shortly after the Minister emphasised the DBE’s commitment to ensuring every learner is taught by a competent educator with the launch of Subject Committees and Professional Learning Communities to promote discussion and inputs by subject specialists on curriculum policy development and implementation. The intention of these is to get all subject specialists in the country, at all levels, involved in addressing the detailed issues raised in the various research reports in teacher competency and learner performance.
