Participants holding Certificates of participation awarded at the end of the programme.
The University of Venda’s Directorates of International Relations and Community Engagement, together with Warwick University recently hosted the Warwick in Africa (WiA) Masterclass workshop programme. The workshop which was supported by Vhembe District Department of Education took place from 1-4 August 2017 at Makhado CPD Centre, Nzhelele.
The UNIVEN-Warwick in Africa (WiA) Masterclass workshop is a tripartite collaborative project organised for capacity building for about 150 school teachers from Vhembe District. This annual initiative started in 2014 and aims to bring both facilitators and participants together for intensive training on new methodologies for Mathematics and English secondary schools teachings.
The workshop was honoured by the attendance of Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Prof Jan Crafford, the Project Manager for WiA, Ms Ruth Dorell and the Vhembe District representatives: Mr Edwin Luvhimbi, Mr Rendani Munzhelele, Mr Mugwabani and Mrs Takalani Tivhone.
In his welcome speech, Prof Crafford mentioned that the funding received by the University from MerSETA totaling R807, 000 has been set aside for the running of the project. He emphasised that it will be the delight of the University to see improvement in the performance of the school learners as they gain admissions into the University after this intervention. “UNIVEN is always ready to partner with the Vhembe District Department of Education in order to see the improvement in the educational system of the country and Masterclass would be a good platform for this achievement,” concluded Prof. Crafford.
According to Segun Obadire, Chief Administrative Officer in the Directorate of International Relations, four facilitators from the schools in Vhembe District were previously trained in the UK. “Mr Aaron Manenzhe, Principal and Maths teacher at Edson Nesengani Secondary School; Mr Peter Mubani, a lead English teacher at Kolokoshani Secondary School, Mr Sadiki, a lead Maths teacher at Ratshikwekwete Secondary School and Mrs Takalani Tivhone, English Curriculum Advisor, Vhembe District Department of Education were trained in the UK”.
Dr Segun Obadire reiterated that a lot has been invested in the workshop by the University and other stakeholders hence a huge responsibility is upon the participants to make sure that the outcome of improving the learners’ performances are achieved.
The Vhembe District Curriculum Coordinator, Mr Edwin Luvhimbi encouraged the participants at the workshop to assist in achieving the set goal of the District. He said the goals for this year are tagged ‘#90% pass and #40% bachelor’ and these hash tags are indications of their wish for learners’ pass rate for this year. He further urged the participants to seize the opportunity presented by the workshop to meet the expectations of the learners and improve their educational performances.
Ms Ruth Dorell, the Project Manager, Warwick in Africa mentioned that the Warwick in Africa project is also taking place in Ghana, Tanzania and South Africa, “but the Masterclass is only run here in Vhembe district, South Africa.” She said the Masterclass workshop requires the cooperation of everyone for it to record a great success again this year.
Issued by: Department of Communications & Marketing
University of Venda
Tel.: (015) 962 8525
Date: 16 August 2017
