Teaching the teachers

While their students enjoy the last week of winter break, ten Gauteng maths and science teachers are trying out their first-ever study tour in Cape Town at the MTN Sciencentre. Here they are with Tony Williams, who is based at the science centre as part of the educator traiing programme ORT-Tech.

Hemant Waghmarae from the SciBono centre in Newlands, Johannesburg, initiated the new project with the help of Busisiwe Maqubela of the MTN Sciencentre.

‘’This has been the first time science centres have worked together like this to help motivate and inspire science teachers with real-world examples of the material they teach in the classroom. So far it’s been a great success,’’ said Ms Maqubela.

Themba Nkabinde, who coordinates the career development of maths, science and technology teachers for the Gauteng education department, agrees. The five-day trip was underwritten by the Gauteng education department.

Pretoria teachers include Johanna Chokwe from the recently-renovated Bona Lesedi no-fee school in Mamelodi East, Kgabo Manamela from Sohanguve Technical High School and Kriba Baloyi from Mamelodi’s J. Kekana High School, who came with Balam Subramani of the Tshwane north educational district

From Roodepoort came Princess High School teacher Sharon von Luiters, while teacher Winnie Alexander comes from Fred Norman High School in Ennerdale in southwest Johannesburg, both accompanied by Nduna Marobela of Johannesburg West educational district.

Representing the East Rand was teacher Venie Chetty from Springs secondary school and Sunward Park High School’s Enoch Thango from Boksburg.

The 10 teachers arrived in Cape Town on Sunday, July 6 – just in time for the heavy rains, cold weather and floods. They can keep warm while filling in their journals, perhaps?

They return to Gauteng on July 12, two days before the new school term starts, inspired and ready to revamp the classrooms.