The ailing South African education system is set to benefit from an initiative that places young and highly gifted university graduates to teach maths, science and English to high school learners in poor communities.
Called Teach South Africa (TSA), the programme is the brainchild of the South African business community and seeks to boost the country’s economic growth by providing these much-needed skills to educationally disadvantaged learners.
As a start, the programme is focusing on Gauteng-based high schools, but it will be rolled out to other provinces at a later stage, with Limpopo being next.
Graduates, also known as “ambassadors”, are carefully selected and then sent to needy schools for a two-year teaching experience.
They do not necessarily have to have a teaching background as some are drawn from disciplines such as engineering, music, psychology and communications.
The idea is that, with their diverse experience and skills, the ambassadors will enrich and inspire learners both within and outside the classroom. Besides complementing the current pool of teachers, TSA will leverage support from its partners to improve school infrastructure, provide teaching resources and train teaching staff on subjects such as best governance practices.
The Gauteng education department has bought into the idea and plays a key part in selecting deserving schools as well as paying stipends to the ambassadors.
TSA’s marketing manager, Tim Isabirye, said that, before the graduates are deployed, they undergo a rigorous selection process that includes in-depth one-on-one interviews and subject competency tests. Once they have been selected, they “receive regular appraisals and feedback to ensure continuous development and quality management”, said Isabirye.
At the completion of their term, ambassadors have the option of either going back to their chosen careers or they can stay on as teachers. Those who decide to remain within the teaching profession are encouraged to study for a post-graduate certificate in education (PGCE).
Graduates who opt to find another job at the completion of their tenure are placed with the help of TSA’s close partners.
An external review is conducted regularly to determine the impact of the programme on learner performance by experts from the education department, universities and education service providers.
the Teacher spoke to the ambassadors, education department officials and principals, who were upbeat about the programme.
Lebogang Matlhare (23) and Peter Wachtler (33) are part of the first cohort of 25 ambassadors deployed at seven high schools in Katlehong, Thokoza and Vosloorus in the Ekurhuleni South district.
Matlhare, who is placed at Katlehong High School where she teaches English, completed an honours degree in psychology whereas Wachtler has a degree in engineering and media technology.
Matlhare said: “I always wanted to become a teacher. After I completed my honours, the logical step was to enrol for a master’s degree, but I decided against it.
“I find education more fulfilling because it puts me at ease, particularly knowing that I contributed to someone’s future.” She said she has fitted in well at the school and enjoys the support she gets from teachers and learners. She has since applied for registration for the PGCE.
Wachtler teaches maths and science at a science and maths school in Gugulethu in the Western Cape. He teaches maths to grade 11 and science to grade nine learners.
“I wanted to make a positive contribution to our education system. I also like working with kids,” said Wachtler. He has also opted to stay on as a teacher.
Timothy Maleswena, the principal at Ilinge High School in Vosloorus, said his school was allocated four ambassadors for maths literacy, English and life sciences. He said when he heard about the programme he immediately canvassed the support of his school management team and the governing body to embrace the initiative.
Maleswena said that since the ambassadors joined his school, there has been some improvement. “The reports I get from the heads of department dealing with the subjects are positive. I am impressed by their [the ambassadors’] level of determination, commitment and enthusiasm. They brought in rare skills, particularly in IT,” said Maleswena.
The principal of Encochoyini School — one of the only two primary schools included in the programme — Sindiswa Maphosa, echoed Maleswena’s sentiments. The school is based in an informal settlement in Phola Park, Thokoza. It has also been allocated four ambassadors and Maphosa said learner performance has improved.
“I fully support the initiative. The ambassadors fitted like gloves in our environment. I admire them for their humbleness and respect for authority. They are really easy to work with,” said Maphosa.
Somikazi Chabalala, who coordinates the initiative on behalf of the education department, said that what she likes most is the fact that “the ambassadors also bring in special skills beyond the subjects they teach”.
“They are professional and motivated, so much so that some have been absorbed into the school improvement project. Most principals are really excited about the programme,” said Chabalala.