Qualified Teachers Step in to Fill Education Gaps

Finding and remedying gaps in learning is the cornerstone of the Kip McGrath Education program.  The teachers and tutors who facilitate the process are passionate in their vocation and persistent in their efforts to give each child the gift of that magical ‘Aha’ moment of complete understanding.

Kip McGrath Franchise owners meet regularly to up date each other on education developments and support each other in their individual businesses. From left to right: Tammy Penceliah (Kip McGrath Durban North) Simla Gosai (Ballito) Hazel Spires (Glenwood), Carol Cuthbert (Kloof), Tracy-Lee Sydney-Smith (Umhlanga and Bluff), Nadira Manickchund (Verulam), Bill  Cuthbert (Kloof) and Cary Hollins-Bott (Durban North)

Founded almost 40 years ago in Australia by a husband and wife team of teachers, the Kip McGrath Education program is now a global phenomenon stretching to more than 600 centres in a multitude of countries. South Africa has 66 tutor centres across the length and breadth of the country, each owned and managed by a professional educator and employing qualified teachers to facilitate the carefully prepared lessons.

Extra Maths, English and Afrikaans Lessons

The Kip McGrath program focuses on key areas of challenge for children: Reading and Comprehension, Writing and Spelling, Maths, English and Afrikaans. The program covers the curriculum from Pre-school to grade 12 with extension learning for students wanting to ‘hold an A’.

We find children who have moved schools, may have suffered a period of immense change or simply missed a section at school exhibit ‘gaps’ when we do our initial assessment. Our role is to fill those gaps so their progression in that subject is easier.”

Kip McGrath has, in the past, been synonymous with ‘remedial education’. Although many of the tutors have remedial education qualifications, the core processes at Kip McGrath Centres aim to bridge certain gaps in learning skills.

“If a child fails to ‘get’ a certain section of maths, for example, he may struggle with other areas of maths down the line. Learning is a series of blocks built on the preceding blocks of learning – miss a block and you have an unstable structure moving forward. At Kip, we look to assess which blocks are missing, reinstate that block and invariably the child performs better across all subjects when his self confidence is restored.” Simla Gosai, Kip McGrath Ballito.

Professional Teachers with Passion

Most tutors at Kip McGrath Education Centres hold full time teaching posts too, Many are Matric Exam markers and have insider knowledge of the trends, areas of focus and outcomes the Matric Exams follow.

Most of our tutors are active teachers in mainstream schools – this is essential for us so we are keenly aligned to the school syllabus and up to date with all current curriculum matter.”

For Tracy-Lee Sydney-Smith, franchise owner at Kip McGrath Umhlanga, training teachers in progressive education is as important as helping children. “We all attend the latest education courses, I am passionate about taking that knowledge to other teachers, training them in the latest tools and methods so ultimately, learners in the classroom are getting a better education.” She said.

Happy Children are Successful Children

The small, group format of the lessons are a key ingredient to successful learning. Children meet at their appointed time (80 minute lessons have proven the most suitable) and progress with their group, forming a bond with their peers and teacher simultaneously.

“Although our processes are systemic, we encourage a creative, free-flowing progression,” says Ballito owner, Simla Gosai, pointing to a colorful display of learner’s work,”our learners come to LIKE learning and that flows in to their classroom too.”

The Kip McGrath group of Education Centres are conveniently located within close proximity to schools. The initial assessment is complimentary and a follow up course of learning is determined  for your child from there.

It is daunting for a child to sit with a teacher’s sole focus for an entire lesson. With 4 – 6 children in a group, that pressure is relieved and he can enjoy the lesson so much more.”