KNYSNA NEWS - Teachers from around Knysna recently graduated from a special course that was aimed at educating teachers from local schools about marine biodiversity.
There was a special focus on pedagogy related to biodiversity, marine content knowledge and assessment practices.
The course was part of the Education Empowerment Programme, which was run conjunctively by the Knysna Basin Project, Rhodes University and Fundisa for Change and funded by the Table Mountain Fund and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Between 2019 and 2021, a total of 15 teachers took part in the course, representing six local schools – Chris Nissen Primary School, Concordia High School, Knysna Secondary School, Percy Mdala High School, Fraaisig Primary School and Thembelitsha Primary School.
"In 2019 we conducted a course for teachers who taught Grade 10 to 12 learners, and in 2020 we started the course for primary schools but, due to Covid, had to implement an online process," said Jessica Seath of the Knysna Basin Project.
"This course was only completed in 2021. Those teachers who managed to complete this course had to adapt to the new systems, despite all the other issues at the time."
Jessica Seath of the Knysna Basin Project. Photo: Blake Linder
Participants completed a Portfolio of Evidence, related to their teaching practices. These portfolios are assessed, then moderated by a Rhodes University representative. "All the certificate recipients achieved all the objectives of the course. All received Rhodes University Short Course Certificates," said Seath.
She also explained that the objective of the course was to address the shortcomings highlighted by national studies, which showed that over 80% of teachers were not able to teach the environmental content of the curriculum as their prior training did not incorporate these components.
"The objective is to facilitate teachers to be confident and competent to teach biodiversity," she said.
The course is only 10 weeks long, but the teachers who took part in the programme between 2019 and 2021 were unable to enjoy a graduation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, on 17 November they finally enjoyed the sweet taste of champagne on graduation day as the Knysna Basin Project invited the graduates to a special ceremony at the Knysna Yacht Club.
There were smiles galore, and in a special speech from Knysna Municipality Environmental Manager Pam Booth, the graduates were commended for their hard work and the effort they put into completing the course despite the trying times in which they took part.
The 2019-2021 graduates were:
Clinton Brian Louw; Jene Lerichia Conradie; Samuel John Noemdoe; Zanoxolo Nqopha; Sasley Mare-Lu Puren; Anezwa Ngxamafuthi; Nokuzola Pretty Mtini; Marilee Basidene Manuel; Khanyisa Patricia Mbomvana; Christina Nokozola Nzanzeka-Mjamba; Nolutando Makuala; Nontshumayelo Evelyn Siwa; Nos'phamandla Abigail Ndamane; Nondumiso Lenny Mgwenya and Thabisa Michael Mokoena.
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