Stepping forward: Sasolburg Teacher training
In South Africa, a significant gap exists in early grade mathematics education, largely due to a lack of comprehensive training for teachers in mathematics pedagogy. To address this critical issue, Jumpstart Foundation Trust has embarked on a journey to equip educators with the skills and knowledge necessary to foster a strong mathematical foundation in young learners. In partnership with leading universities and supported by various funders, we are taking what has been developed for pre-service teaching to our in-service educators and educator assistants.
Our efforts to bridge the gap began in early 2023, when we contacted Kelello to deliver the Emergent Number Sense developed for the University of Johannesburg program 67 interns in Ekurhuleni South. This initiative, funded by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF), took place in February 2023. The training focused on practical aspects of mathematics teaching, emphasizing real-life classroom applications and interactive learning methods.
Training in Sasolburg
This month 102 teachers, from Zamdela township were trained by experts from the University of the Witwatersrand. This was done with the generous support of Sasol. The training took place in July 2023 at the Boitjhorisong Resource Centre in Sasolburg. Like the intern training, the Sasol program focused on practical, reality-based approaches to teaching mathematics, tailored to the unique challenges faced by South African schools.
A Focus on Practical Training
As always, we were pragmatic. The program is designed to address the specific needs of foundation phase teachers, providing them with the tools and techniques to effectively teach mathematics in under-resourced schools with large classrooms. We also complement this with follow up daily classroom practice as part of the broader JumpStart programme. The training includes structured lecture sessions, hands-on activities, and examples of learner activities and games.
Positive Reception and Impact
The Sasol-funded training was well received by the teachers in Sasolburg and we received numerous request for more training. The overwhelming majority of teacher in the post training evaluation said that they will implement what they have learnt in the classroom and that the training will make them better mathematics teachers.
Looking Ahead
We are excited about the positive reception of both sets of training we have rolled out this year. Our universities deserve our appreciation for the practical, hands-on, and motivational approach they are adopting. Special thanks to Sam, Corinne, Nicky and their teams. As we look to find ways to roll out these programs to more in-service teachers, we are confident that it will make a significant impact on early grade mathematics education.
The next phase of our journey will see our project staff trained as trainers, enabling us to further expand the reach across all our programmes. We are committed to transforming mathematics education in South Africa and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to make strides in early grade mathematics education.
If you would like to know more about our planned teacher training or wish to support this initiative please drop us a line at contactus@jumpstart.org.za or +27 (0)11 431 -1667
Author: Callen Hodgskiss