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www.thevillagenews.co.za
9 September 2020
Varsity offers new EPWP creates education qualifications employment H
ermanus Varsity Trust (HVT) is proud to announce a new association with STADIO’s School of Education (previously Embury) to offer two distance-learning teacher education qualifications – the B Ed in Foundation Phase Teaching and the Higher Certificate in Pre-School Education – from 2021.
The HVT’s Hub will operate as a STADIO Learning Centre where the STADIO distance-learning students can get academic, technology, motivational and administrative student support. Both these qualifications are regarded as national key areas to improve education in South Africa. The agreement with STADIO School of Education is the result of several months of research to find a higher education institution that shares similar educational principles, with an emphasis on student-centred learning, integration between theory and practice, and a blended learning model which provides students with the opportunity to study part time. The mode of delivery will vary between online interactive sessions, small group tutoring with technological support, and printed course materials where needed.
– 5 years age group is where quality education can make an enormous difference, owing to the significant cognitive and emotional development that occurs during this early stage in a child’s life. Investing in quality pre-school education is one of the most satisfying investments one can make in terms of short and long term results. Learning through play is a powerful way of learning, but it takes planning and skilful facilitation. Ask any pre-school teacher! The B Ed in Foundation Phase Teaching (NQF Level7) for Grade R – Grade 3 is a stand-alone degree programme for prospective students who have access to degree studies, but also follows directly after the above pre-school Higher Certificate qualification. Indeed, once the first group of PreSchool teachers has qualified, the HVT hopes that the majority will continue with the B Ed Foundation Phase since both the Departments of Basic Education and of Higher Education have made it clear that the aim is for all teachers in the formal schooling sector to have a minimum NQF Level 7 (degree) qualification.
Standard admission requirements will apply, and both qualifications are accredited and may, on completion, lead to further studies in education.
Students will be able to choose between English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans as Home Language and First Additional language. In addition, students will also choose between IsiXhosa and Afrikaans at conversational level.
The Higher Certificate in Pre-School Education (NQF Level 5) will be welcomed by Educare centres in the Overstrand, where many practitioners are unqualified or under-qualified to provide a stimulating learning environment. The 0
Educators throughout the world agree that Foundation Phase teachers lay the foundation for formal schooling by ensuring that children become inquisitive, associate learning with joy, and are eager to know more.
A unique feature of Hermanus Varsity Trust is that all students linked to the HVT Hub are required to complete a Personal and Professional Development (PPD) course. Both the higher certificate and the degree cover key areas such as Academic Literacy and Inclusive Education, and the PPD adds critical aspects such as Ethical Leadership and Environmental Responsibility. In this way, students linked to HVT will graduate with a sense of pride, not only because they have a qualification, but also because they are confident members of society. Hermanus Varsity Trust and STADIO School of Education look forward with great excitement to enrolling the first teacher education students in the Overstrand. However, the success of the venture will also depend on the involvement of the community. Our students, some of whom will need sponsors, will do their teaching practice in our schools where they will need experienced and qualified teachers to support them and help them build the bridges between theory and the challenges of the school environment. Hermanus Varsity Trust invites retired or at-home qualified and experienced Foundation Phase and PreSchool teachers to contact us should they be willing to assist as tutors. We look forward to welcoming you to the STADIO learning centre/ HVT Hub. Join us as tutors and become part of the HVT family.
For enquiries, please contact admin@hermanusvarsity.co.za
opportunities Overstrand Municipality has appointed new co-ordinators to champion the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). Chantelle Hill and her assistant, Nontsikelelo Tshandu, who both work for the Economic and Social Development & Tourism Department of the Overstrand Municipality, will run the programme. With this appointment, the municipality reaffirmed its commitment to creating work opportunities for unskilled and unemployed residents. Last year, the EPWP created 1 060 work opportunities in the Overstrand. The EPWP is intended to alleviate poverty by providing temporary
workers with a step up through access to opportunities to earn money. Beneficiaries also receive skills training and on-the-job experience to put them in a better position to gain full-time employment. Some EPWP participants are employed to clean targeted neighbourhoods and streets, while others are employed to do general maintenance of municipal infrastructure, and to cut the grass in parks and municipal sports grounds. Some beneficiaries do patrol work to help ensure the safety of tourists and their belongings in certain areas, and assistants are employed to do basic administration work, etc.
Nontsikelelo Tshandu and Chantelle Hill from LED are the municipality’s new Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) champions.
