News

MIET AFRICA requires the services of suitably qualified and experienced auditors to undertake the auditing services as detailed in the Terms of Reference.  Closing date for submission is 20 October 2024. To view the full ToR click here. Please direct any queries to Matthew Fortuin at matthew@miet.co.za.

Originally piloted in four Member States (Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe), FutureLife-Now! was launched in South Africa in 2023. Through it, learners in the FutureLife-Now! schools in South Africa have been exposed to a variety of the programme’s themes, including sexual and reproductive health and rights and climate change awareness and its effects.

To read more, click here. The newsletter is also available in French and Portuguese.

The 2024 national CSTL Research Symposium hosted by the South African Department of Basic Education (DBE), concluded this week with a resounding reaffirmation of partner commitment to ensuring holistic support and care for every learner and educator.

The 2nd Symposium was held on 3 and 4 September 2024 at Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Johannesburg, Gauteng, under the theme, “A Response to Ending Learning Poverty”. Over 200 participants attended.

MIET AFRICA, as a key CSTL partner, joined the DBE, the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT), UNICEF and UNESCO for the two-day Symposium.

MIET AFRICA Trustee and former Chairperson of the Board, Prof John D Volmink, presented a keynote address where he outlined the key milestones of the CSTL journey, from its early roots as a small project piloted by MIET AFRICA in three provinces in South Africa,

The use of “peer educators” to implement FutureLife-Now! is an important feature of the programme in Zimbabwe, Phase 2 of which is now full steam ahead. To ensure that they are fully equipped to maximize programme impact, the country team organized two dynamic training sessions for nearly 100 educators from 37 schools. Read about this, and more in FutureLife-Now! News, out now. Also available in Portuguese and French.

In collaboration with the Department of Basic Education and UNICEF South Africa, MIET AFRICA developed an animated video series on menstrual health and hygiene.  The engaging series were designed specifically for young people, to be used in classrooms and to be shared widely to create more awareness and knowledge about menstrual health. By providing clear and accessible information, we aim to empower young girls and boys, break down myths and taboos, and foster a supportive environment where everyone can discuss and understand the importance of menstrual health.

Episode 1: Menstruation the Basics

Join Lesedi, our main character as she, along with her friends, family, teachers and healthcare workers share information on topical themes to promote PERIOD POWER, spread positivity and ensure that every learner feels informed and confident about this natural and important aspect of life.

MIET AFRICA, supported by the Sanlam Foundation, implemented a maths support programme in 15 primary and eight secondary schools from 2017 to 2022 in KwaZulu-Natal. A set of 12 videos covering key topics on number concept development (number sense) at Grade 4 level was developed as one of the outputs of the support programme. The videos can be used by teachers during lessons, by learners (individual and in groups) at home or in school to cover learning gaps, and by caregivers (parents) in supporting their children at home. The videos are available in English and isiZulu.

View the videos now on MIET AFRICA’s YouTube Channel

Poor number concept development in primary school learners eventually leads to poor performance in maths in the higher grades. In the 2019 “Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study” (TIMSS) Grade 4/5 study, South Africa was one of the five lowest performing countries,

At the age of 18, Graham Tinotenda Mushavi from Zimbabwe has become a published author. His book, Behind masculinity—The reality, was inspired by his experience in the Boys’ Mentorship Club that FutureLife-Now! started at his school. Graham’s bold act has motivated other young people in his community to start writing; they are dreaming of publishing and launching their own books. Read about Graham’s story, and more in the first edition of the year of FutureLife-Now! news.

As the two-year pilot comes to an end, MIET AFRICA wishes to thank the Zenex Foundation for its support, and thanks the learners, educators and partners who have supported the I Read, I Lead Project since January 2022.

Fostering a love of reading and books in young people is crucial for their intellectual and emotional development. This is especially true for learners at selected project schools in KwaZulu-Natal, who for the last two years, have been part of a pilot project to improve reading with understanding, and instil a love of the written word, and books.

As this two-year project comes to an end, two very exciting events recently took place to acknowledge the learners who have exceeded expectations, and to say thank you to the educators who have been supportive of the project, since it began In January 2022.

A partnership project initiated and supported by the Zenex Foundation,

Exciting news for the FutureLife-Now! community and all those with a stake in gender equality in the education sector! At their annual meeting held recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo, SADC Ministers of Education adopted the SADC Boys’ and Young Men’s Vulnerability Framework as an addendum to the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning Policy Framework (CSTL PF). Read about this, and more in the latest edition of FutureLife-Now! News.