NECT / ETDP SETA Training of Trainers off to a successful start

The first phase of a new training initiative for 500 Mathematics and Science teachers from 6 districts across 3 provinces concluded on Saturday 14 November 2015.

31 trainers, facilitators and coaches from Limpopo, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal met for an intensive two-day programme to prepare for the training of teachers which kicks off on the weekend of 20, 21 and 22 November.

The 9 day short course for Mathematics and Science teachers at the FET level (i.e. Grades 10, 11 and 12) has been designed by CASME and focuses on carefully selected content that is nortoriously and historically poorly performed by learners in the National Senior Certificate examinations.

The short course is designed to engage teachers not only in the content mastery required in these topics but also to expose them to the teaching strategies that will assist them to develop problem solving and conceptual understanding in their learners.

The course has a strong ICT integration element with CASME sharing its knowledge and experience of free and open source software for teaching and learning mathematics and science.

The course is accredited by the South African Council of Education and carried 10 professional development points for participating teachers.

By March 2016 the teachers will have completed the course which includes opportunities for them to test the strategies in their classrooms and develop and portfolio of evidence to demonstrate the application of the course content.

The project is funded by the ETDP SETA through the National Education Collaboration Trust as part of a broader District Improvement Programme to assist government to meet its National Development Plan education objectives.