Launch of the Jula Project

The official launch of the Jula! Maths and Science Teacher Development Project took place at the University’s Edgewood campus in July 2002. The project, which is funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, was implemented for the University of Natal by CASME (Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education) in partnership with the Department of Education. 

​The project focuses on mathematics and science educators in the Ladysmith and Empangeni regions.

The launch was attended by the 350 teachers involved in the project, as well as a number of special guests, including Mr Logi Naidoo (eThekweni Municipality Deputy Mayor) and Professor Gabriel Ndabandaba (Minister of Education and Culture, KwaZulu-Natal). The launch ceremony coincided with the start of the second vacation school in a series of six planned for the project.<BR><BR>The goal of the Jula! project is to materially improve the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in the Ladysmith and Empangeni regions of KwaZulu-Natal in relation to teachers’ attitudes towards their own professional development, teachers’ competence in teaching their discipline, teachers’ confidence in their ability to promote learning, and learners’ interest and performance in Science and Mathematics.

In short, CASME plans to achieve these goals for some 250 schools, 350 teachers and 40 000 students by holding two five-day vacation schools, four assessments, four implementation plans and four workshops per year over a period of three years, together with the development of materials for in-service and initial teacher training.