May 2013 - MIET AFRICA

CUSTOMIZATION OF THE MONITORING, EVALUATION AND RESEARCH FRAMEWORK

On 22-23 April a workshop was held in Swaziland, at which the Ministry of Education and Training, supported by MIET AFRICA and its consultant, Ms Eleanor Hazell, began the process of customizing the Regional CSTL MER framework to the Swaziland context.

The new MER focal person, Ms Nonhlanhla Shongwe has quickly grasped what needs to be done, and took a leadership role throughout the proceedings. With her leadership – and with the support from other people present, in particular Mr John Hlope (Acting Director: Guidance and Counselling), Mr Jabulani Shabalalaor (Director: EMIS) and Mrs Sthembile Mbingo (Diretor: SHAPE) – it should be possible to complete the customization within the allocated time. The team themselves are confident that they can do it, and remarked that “it is not that difficult after all”.

It will be vital for the team to consult with other stakeholders,

TEACHING FOR INCLUSION AND DEMOCRACY: WORKSHOP IN GABORONE

MIET AFRICA and Stockholm University are leading a North – South partner-driven cooperation between South Africa, Namibia and Botswana in the south, and Sweden in the north. The initiative is funded by the SIDA (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency), and the countries are participating through representatives from their Ministries of Education, and representatives of one university and one NGO per country. The project responds to the international shift towards emphasis on creating inclusive systems of education, which has been promoted by several significant bodies and agreements, and is in-line with a human rights-based approach.

The initiative aims to strengthen understanding of what is meant by democracy and inclusion in educational settings, as well as attempting to address the question: What are the implications of an inclusive and democratic approach to teaching and learning on teacher education and development?

The initiative started in 2010 and through site visits to different educational institutions in the participating countries,

FNB PRIMARY EDUCATION PROGRAMME COMMENCES

This partnership project, which was initiated by Tshikululu Social Investments (TSI) with support from the FNB Foundation, was launched in April. The project targets 19 schools in the Umlazi and Umgungundlovu Districts in KZN. Sarah Ball, from TSI, introduced the project in Umlazi on 10 April and in Umgungundlovu on the 11th.

The implementing partners of the project are Principal’s Management Development Programme (PMDP), the Catholic Institute of Education (CIE) and MIET AFRICA. The interventions at the schools will include capacity development of school management and strengthening schools to address barriers to learning and development. In addition to coordinating activities, MIET AFRICA will train and support teachers, School Governing Bodies and learner structures, with the aim of transforming schools into caring and supportive environments where all children can learn effectively.

JOINING FORCES FOR NUTRITION

MIET AFRICA recently partnered with the South African Sugar Association (SASA) and the KZN Department of Education’s nutrition and curriculum units to develop a nutrition resource pack for teachers and learners in Grade R-6.

The pack comprises a teacher guide to teaching nutrition as part of the Life Skills curriculum in the foundation and intermediate phases. It includes nutrition information for the teacher, lesson activity ideas and CAPS-compliant grade-specific activity sheets for learners. The guide is accompanied by three readers, one for each of Grades 4-6.These colourful and attractive readers, entitled Looking after your Teeth, Food from around the World! and A Case of the Runs–A Detective Story About Food Safety, also address curriculum-specific nutrition topics.

View these materials in our publications section.