Ambassador and Rector put pen to paperThe official commencementof the SEEDS Programmewhich will mean huge de-velopment of and supportfor education in the WesternCape and other provinces —pictured here putting theirsignatures to the SEEDSDonor Agreement are Am-bassador Rob de Vos of theEmbassy of the Kingdom ofthe Netherlands and ProfRussel Botman, Rector ofStellen bosch University. TheDutch government is provid-ing funding to the tune of R150m over four years, and Stellenbosch University is theappointed fund-holder. The four universities in the Western Cape, together with sixNGO’s, form the SEEDS consortium which started its work in 2009. SEEDS focuses onfour key areas of education, namely Maths and Science, HIV/AIDS prevention, ruralmulti-grade education and schools as hubs of life-long learning. (See the list of partnerorganizations overleaf).

In recent times (before the now tradi-tional January hand-wringing over matric results), searching questionshave been asked of the lack of impactof many of the multitude of interven-tions (both government and non-govern ment) in the education sector.Such questions are fully justified. It isquite apparent that no-one working inthis sector can continue with businessas usual, given the obvious lack of pro -gress that we are making.

The SEEDS consortium was estab-lished in the belief that working witheach other, rather than competing forthe same resources, makes much sense.We are under no illusions as to thecomplexity of the task we have set our-selves. Different agenda’s, project out-comes, methodologies and, lest weforget, egos all contribute to ensuring a challenging and stimulating environ-ment! But what a wonderful opportu-nity the SEEDS community has. For thenext three years, SEEDS partners havebeen given license to explore synergiesand collaborate with each other onprojects. It is our collective responsibil-ity to ensure that these pro jects havesuch impact that they can continue togrow and be replicated long after ourvery generous Dutch support comes toan end.

This quarterly publication will sharewhat we do, learn and achieve on ourjourney together.

Mike ErskineProgramme Manager

Editorial

Seedspartners

2

CongratsScimathus

3

Darwinand theCape

4

EMEPhighlights

6

ScifestAfrica reflects

6

GOLD peer educators showing all of us GOLD peer educators showing all of us how to plant, nurture and benefit fromhow to plant, nurture and benefit from

SEEDSSEEDS!!

FOCUS AREA 2: MULTI-GRADE EDUCATION

FOCUS AREA 3: SCHOOLS AS HUBS OF LIFE-LONG LEARNING

FOCUS AREA 4: HIV/AIDS PREVENTION & RISK REDUCTION

FOCUS AREA: MATHS & SCIENCE

The partners at the signing ceremony were: Prof Nhlapo (UCT), Jonny Gevisser (EMEP), Emmanuel Mushayikwa (MSEP, UCT), Mrs deVos, Ambassador de Vos (Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands — EKN), Wim Schippers (EKN), Prof Botman (SU), CorneliusHacking (EKN), Prof Mazwi-Tanga (CPUT), Wilmot James (AGEI), Kosie Smit (IMSTUS, SU), Gareth Rossiter (SAILI), Freda Brock (ELRU),Susannah Farr (GOLD) and Vera Adams (Scifest).

SEEDSSEEDS partnerspartners

Teacher training and resource provision (Natural Sciences and Life Sciences)

Teacher training, resource develop-ment & provision

Post matric programme; In servicetraining and resource provision; ACEin Maths

In-depth support to selected Dinaledi schools

Learner placement and support

Advocacy through theatre, work-shops and presentations

Teacher training, resource provision

Develop schools as hubs of life-longlearning

Peer education programme

2

FET

Pre-school and Foundation Phase

GET and FET

Gr 8 -12

Gr 7 - 12

GET and FET

GET

GET, FET

Gr 8 - 12

Africa Genome Education Institute (AGEI) & UWCPh:021 683 5814 (AGEI); 021 952 7519 (UWC)Web: www.teachingbiologyproject.co.zawww.uwc.ac.za

Early Learning Resource Unit (ELRU)Ph: 021 762 7500Web: www.elru.co.za

Institute of Maths and Science Teaching StellenboschUniversity (IMSTUS)Ph: 021 808 3483Web: www.imstus.sun.ac.za

Maths Science Education Project (MSEP) — UCTPh: 021 650 3582Web: www.sdu.uct.ac.za

Science & Industrial Leadership Initiative (SAILI)Ph: 021 763 7110Web: www.saili.org.za

Scifest AfricaPh: 046 603 1152Web: www.scifest.org.za

Centre for Multi-Grade Education (CMGE) — CPUTPh: 021 873 7691Web: www.cmge.co.za

Extra-Mural Education Programme (EMEP)Ph: 021 448 0660Web: www.emep.org.za

GOLD Peer EducationPh:021 685 5038Web: www.goldpe.org.za

Stellenbosch University launched the SciMathUSPost Matric Programme in 2001. This was initi-ated to address the situation of too few black

students entering tertiary education for trainingin the natural sciences, applied natural sciencesand the economic and management sciences.

Students from disadvantaged schools who demonstrate poten-tial are selected for the Programme and registered as specialday students at the University.

The Programme is managed by IMSTUS (IWWOUS) and is located on the main campus of Stellenbosch University.

The structured 10-month Programme accommodates up to100 students per year and creates the opportunity for studentsto gain entry to university, following a year of intensive tuitionin Mathematics, Science or Accountancy, as well as AcademicLanguage, Study and Thinking Skills; Computer Literacy; andStatistics and Introduction to Financial Accounting (for stu-dents who take Accountancy).

Success of the project can be measured by the learners im-proved results. The 2009 cohort of 87 learners showed the following improvements to their matric results”

Bearing in mind that nationally Science marks declined in2009, this is a wonderful performance, with no less than 6 ofthe 13 Accountancy students receiving distinctions! The 6 stu-dents who wrote the old Science curriculum exams improvedtheir results from an average of 39% to 63%.

From left to right: Berenice Coetzee (BSc Physiotherapy) with BongiweTyhala and Pumza Ghu (both MBChB) — former Scimathus studentswho graduated last year.

CongratulationsCongratulations

Subject Pre results Post results % changeAccountancy 55% 74% 19%Science 42% 52% 10%Mathematics 47% 62% 15%

A PEER, “D”, 18, AND IN GRADE 12 WRITES:

Over the past few years I’ve been watching these guys calledpeer educators to see what I can learn from them. Being sur-rounded by negativity like poverty, drugs, alcohol abuse, gang-sterism and everyday crime, I was desperate for somethingpositive to give me hope and to motivate me to continue withmy school career. I recall meeting a guy named Peter Jansenwho’s also part of this Gold programme and how he slowly butsurely became my friend and role model. He came from almost the same background as I, but yet he’s so positive abouttomorrow. I learnt a lot from just observing how this guy over-came his everyday challenges, how he confronts his ene mies(like drugs, alcohol, gangsterism) and how he stood up foryoung people. His involvement, attitude and outlook on liferubs off on me in such a way that I can proudly say today I’mthe Chairperson of the SRC at my school, President of Interact,a social club at school, where Peter is also the Vice-president.

My dream is to pursue a career in Public Relations after schooland to further develop my leadership and people skills. I’mgreatful for the impact that a handful of learners called peereducators could have on my life especially Peter, PJ as I knowhim. I wish there could be more of them.

�� “D” came from a very disadvantaged family and Commu-nity with limited or no resources and opportunities.

The GOLDGOLD

Upcoming eventsMARCH EVENTS CONTACT15 — 19 Scifest lecture tour Bridget Nash 046 603 110620 Scifest teacher workshop bridget@scifest.org.za (MTN Science Centre)

21 — 24 International Multi-grade Desiree ChinamasyConferenceCPUT, Wellington 021 873 7691

www.cmge.co.za 25 — 29 Science week, Grahamstown www.scifest.org.za

29 — 01 Teaching Biology Project Melody Williams Conference www.teachingbiologyproject.org.za 021 683 5814

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So, what happens to the students once they leave Scimathus? Well, some of them become doctors!

Partner N E W S

Darwin 200Prof John Buckeridge, RMIT University, Australia and out-going President of the Interna-tional Union of BiologicalScien ces (IUBS) with Dr Fran-cis Thackeray, Director of theInstitute for Human Evolutionat the University of the Witwa-tersrand and Professor Emeri-tus, Phillip Tobias, FRSHonorary Pro fessorial Re-search Fellow, School ofAnatomical Sciences Universityof the Witwaters rand MedicalSchool.

With Prof Lorna Holtman, Director of PostgraduateStudies, UWC (middle) is(left), the in-coming Presidentof the International Union ofBiological Sciences (IUBS),Prof Giorgio Bernard - Direc-tor of the Laboratory of Molecular Evolution StazioneZoologica Anton Dohrn,Napoli, Italy and (right) Prof Yves Coppens, famousFrench anthropologist.

PartnerN E W S

he Africa Genome Education

Institute (AGEI ), in part nership

with the Iziko Museum, held the

opening of the ‘Darwin and The

Cape’ exhibition at the Iziko Museum

in Cape Town on 23 November. AGEI

was instrumental in securing Profes-

sor Chris Stringer, research leader in

Human Origins at the Natural History

Museum in London, to be the guest

speaker and to officially declare the

exhibition open. From left: Profs Raj Ramesar, Chris Stringer and Brian O’Connel attended the Nelson Mandela Science Lecture.

Charles Darwin, Africa,Charles Darwin, Africa,and Human Evolutionand Human Evolution

�� Furthermore, on 24November the NelsonMandela Science Lec-ture was held at theUniversity of the West-ern Cape in Bellville andwe were honoured tohave Professor ChrisStringer deliver a pres-entation at this eventas well. Over 200 peo-ple were in attendanceand the event was ahuge success!

Launch of ‘Darwin and The Cape’

Internationally renowned biological sciencescholars and researchers from over 20countries gathered at UWC for the Darwin

200 Symposium on Human Evolution in Octoberlast year. The Symposium and workshops formedpart of the greater Biological Sciences Congressheld at the campus.

The aim of Darwin 200 was to celebrate theimpact of Charles Darwin’s ideas on current sci-entific knowledge. The programme covered thelatest research on Human Genomics, Ar chaeo lo gy,Anthropology, Palaeontology, Genetics and Geno-graphic research, with some of the world’s fore-most experts contributing to the symposium.

Scientists such as Georgio Bernadi of Italy,Aaron Klug of the UK, Takashi Gojobori of Japanand Manfred Keyser of the Netherlands gave pre-sentations, while our very own much respectedand admired, Phillip Tobias gave a dinner addressentitled: “A life of illness: How did Charles Dar-win cope?”

Congratulations to Lorna Holtman and herteam at UWC for organising such an outstandingsymposium and to Lorna for being elected to theIUBS executive committee and as Vice-Presidentof the Commission for Biology Education.

4

TT

Partner N E W S

5

Fro

m D

ie Burger

ast year 152 principals, deputies, and educators from19 Western Cape schools partnered with the Extra-Mural Education Project (EMEP), and started their respective institutions on the road to becoming Community Hubs of extra-mural activities.

Of the many highlights last year, the formation of an “EMEPPeriod” at our partner schools ranks high. Schools have struc-tured their timetables to make room for an hour-long periodonce a week for all learners to participate in an activity of theirchoice that enriches their school experience.

In addition to improved coaching and management practicesin sports, arts and dance, some innovative examples of extra-mural activities include social, nature lovers, weightlifting, dra -ma and chess clubs; environmental projects such as greening,food gardening and waste awareness; story-telling and film-making; career days; self-defence classes and academic support.

The learners are benefiting from the chance to bond withtheir teachers and schools, as well as experiencing new learningopportunities, that they wouldn’t otherwise have. Ms Amster-dam of FJ Conradie in De Doorns told EMEP staffers about achild who came to her saying, “I am so happy to be able to playwith toys and games in the extra-mural period.’ When askedwhy that was so, he responded, “I don’t have any toys at home”.

Educators and members of School Management have also reported a significant boost in their motivation and confidencelevels, as well as improved practices both as educationalists andchange agents. As one trainee put it: “The most significantchange in me was that I felt empowered to bring about changein our school … and able to get more educators and other role-players on board. What surprised me most was the willingnessof the other educators to become involved.”

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Beyond the School WallPartner

P R O F I L E S

Learners from De Heide Primary School, Bedasdorp having fun andlearning new skills in their extra-mural sessions!”

LDeveloping Extra−Mural Opportunities

From Bubblz the Clown and visits to the MTN Science Centre to Pro-fessor Ynot, who closely resembled Einstein, and the tale of PJ from themagical educational theatre piece The Square Root of Dreaming, this hasbeen a whirlwind of a year for Scifest Africa and our SEEDS partners!

By November last year we had com-pleted nine tours in the Western Cape,which include a mix of science showtours, workshop tours, lecture tours andan educational theatre tour. These havebeen facilitated by organisations such asthe MTN Science Centre, Living Maths,ORT-Tech, the Hermanus Magnetic Obser-vatory, the South African AstronomicalObservatory, and the edu ca tional playwhich was created and toured by Ubom!Eastern Cape Drama Company.

We have taken fun and exciting science and Maths shows to a total of 61 schools, approximately 5 000 learnersand 120 teachers. Our visits have alwaysbeen well received, with the principals,teachers and learners expressing appre ci-ation at us coming all the way from Grahamstown, Cape Town, Hermanus and

Sutherland to visit them at their school.

On more than one occasion our facili-tators have been begged for the scienceshows not to end in order to be shownmore demonstrations, as the learners arehungry for practical education and towatch chemical reactions taking placebefore their very eyes. Seeing the reac-tions of the learners when somethingnew is revealed to them, be it in the formof an impressive bang or a fellow learnersitting on a seat of nails and not beinginjured, is a wonderful aspect of our vis-its to these schools.

It is especially rewarding when theteachers commend us on the show orworkshop and thank us for helping to inspire them and give them a hand in the classroom.

All in all it has been a wonderful yearof adding some fun to the education sys-tem, and meeting principals and teachersthat are trying to make a difference attheir schools and the learners that passthrough their classrooms.

We are looking forward to this yearand how the next nine tours will addvalue to the education system in theWestern Cape. We would like to thankMike Erskine and all the SEEDS partnersfor helping us make this year the successit has been.

““

””

Scifest Africa Project Manager, Bridget Nash, reflects on their work in 2009

a whirlwind of a year

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SCIFEST AFRICA: Karel Klein of the South African AstronomicalObservatory and a young learner from Driefontein Primary Schoolshare some thoughts on our solar system during a Scifest workshop.

Photo ALBUM

SAILI: MEC Donald Grant met with SAILI learners Zuko Sifumbaand Siphosihle Shumane and with Fikiswa Majola, their chaperone, atthe MTN Science Centre before they set off to the “Bright GreenYouth” camp on climate change in Denmark in August last year.

GOLDVision: The message speaks for itself.

Facilitators Advocacy Training.

Left and above: Peer eductors on camp.

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MSEP Camp.

Yellowwood School Scifest.

GOLD staff and students.

EMEP learners from De Heide Primary School, Bedasdorp having fun.

Photo ALBUM