Education Project certificate ceremony
18 April 2007
It takes a lot of creative thinking on the part of school leaders and
managers to find ways to enhance learning in the context of severely
constrained resources and difficult social environments.
Therefore, through a partnership between the Extra-Mural Education Project
(EMEP), a non-profit development agency based in Cape Town, and the Western
Cape Education Department (WCED), educators from various schools have been
trained to answer the challenge of creating conditions that will enable all
children to succeed.
During a two-year 'beyond the school wall,' developing Extra-Mural
Opportunities Training Course, a pilot project of EMEP and WCED to qualify and
support teachers as Extra-Mural Development Practitioners (EMDPs), teachers
have been equipped to develop extra-mural opportunities at their schools for
the benefit of their learners, families, and communities.
The graduation of the first intake of 23 teachers from 14 schools will be
celebrated at Sid G Rule Primary School in Grassy Park on Saturday, 21 April
2007, from 10h00 to 12h30. The Minister of Education Naledi Pandor will
officiate at the certificate ceremony. A range of school, government, and
community players is expected to attend.
Said Jonathan Gevisser, Director of the Extra-Mural Education Project's,
"vision, strongly supported by government, is of schools functioning as
community hubs through an innovative extra-mural approach, using their existing
resources maximally as the first strategic step to do so."
A school operating as a community hub is a site of extra-mural opportunities
for young people, their families, and their local communities. These range from
sports, arts, recreation, environmental education, service learning, and study
support to adult education and training, income generating projects, and
support services (e.g. counselling, health, welfare, legal aid, etc).
"Extra-murals make use of time before, during, between, and, especially,
after-class, as well as during evenings, weekends, and holidays. The EMEP model
recognises that for the whole child to be reached and supported fully to
succeed, a holistic approach, requiring multiple supports physical, emotional,
social and academic is vital."
"The Extra-Mural Development Practitioner (EMDP) graduates' skills include
designing, leading and managing a holistic programme of extra-murals as well as
mobilising partnerships to integrate existing community resources with the
assets of the schools."
"The graduates report that some of the most positive outcomes of the
training have been improved relationships within their own schools and between
schools and their respective communities, that their leadership skills and
ability to facilitate change have vastly improved, and that there have been
many direct benefits for learners, families and community."
"According to some graduates, the skills they acquire from this programme
have played a vital role in improving the impact on learners and the culture of
teaching and learning. The integration of the curriculum and extra-murals has
made learning more fun and enjoyable, and that leads to a positive attitude
towards change."
Said Education MEC Cameron Dugmore, "I believe there is a reciprocal
relationship between safe schools and safe communities, a community that is
engaged, that feels ownership of and pride in its school, does not vandalise it
and does not allow others to do so."
"A school is part of the community, its community role is to reach and serve
the community, opening its doors to everyone and enabling the whole community
to become a learning community."
"Learners, teachers and administrative staff are not only school agents;
they are also community agents, agents of social change and development. We
look to our role-model schools and teachers who have graduated, to give a lead
in matters of extra-mural activities and their shaping power in young
lives."
Enquiries:
Jonathan Gevisser
Tel: (021) 448 0660
Sarah Bliss
Cell: 084 983 4333
E-mail: info@emep.org.za.
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: (021) 467 2523
Fax: (021) 425 5689
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
18 April 2007
