Upgrading Zululand teacher skills
Hundreds of rural teachers have the opportunity to improve their teaching skills.
THE Teachers Across Borders (TABSA) training project is currently underway in Pongola to upgrade rural teachers’ skills.
In its 14th year, TABSA is busy helping 160 Grade 12 maths and science teachers overcome some of the challenges they experience teaching in rural schools.
The Zululand leg of the project has been running for the last three weeks.
The first week started with 120 Grade 9 maths and science teachers at Magudu Inn.
The Umkhanyakude District has 568 schools.
Teachers in this district face a number of challenges, ranging from a lack of resources to overcrowded classrooms.
TABSA, an all-volunteer organisation with a team of educators from South Africa, the United States and Canada, use their decades of experience to help teachers upgrade and maximize their teaching skills.
During their summer holidays, they prepare specific lessons for local schools then raise funds to pay their own way when in South Africa.
TABSA Director Yunus Peer, who lives in Hawaii and teaches at Punahou School, has been leading this project for many years.
Peer, a born-and-bred South African, feels that a good education system is vital in this country.
‘But this can only be achieved if the teachers have the correct skills to overcome the challenges they face in different teaching environments. Teachers working in rural schools are heroes in my eyes.’ Peer said. ‘It takes much courage to step into a classroom with 80 pupils and very little to non-existent resources.’
However, while the project has been enormously popular with local teachers, the Department of Education has wavered in its support of the project, making it difficult for TABSA to continue to commit to returning every year.
‘Improvement at ground level is what the project was always aiming for and I have seen that taking place. The Department of Basic Education estimates that well over one million pupils have benefited from this project with their teachers upgraded skills,’
With this leg of the project drawing to a close on Friday, Peer and his team will be moving onto Swaziland where they will begin a week of workshops with another 220 teachers.
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