Bitou 10 Foundation March Newsletter
Welcome to our first quarterly newsletter, the first quarter of 2011 has certainly been a busy and productive one!
Visits from VIP’s
In January we were honoured to be visited by a number of individuals esteemed in the world of education transformation: they were Graeme Bloch, Godwin Khosa, Dr John Volmink and Lynne van der Elst.
Graeme is our Founding Patron; he is the author of The Toxic Mix: What’s Wrong with South Africa’s Schools and How to Fix It and is an Education Specialist at the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Godwin holds the position of CEO with JET Education Services; they have been working actively in a number of schools across the country for the past 17 years. John was appointed as CEO of the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit in 2010, he has been centrally involved in curriculum reform post-1994 and plays a leading role in the transformation of education in South Africa. Lynne is currently the CEO of MIET Africa, a not-for-profit organisation – her passion lies in participating in the growth and development of South Africans through contributing to the provision of quality education.
We are highly encouraged by their observations, among others that they see our organisation as a unique example of an education development initiative at grass roots level and that we have a clear understanding that development is all about people. We thank them for their interest and support and for taking the time to visit us.
Our relationship with the WCED
In a novel development we are in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the WCED Circuit 4 Team as regards the Bitou Integrated Education Development Plan (BIEDP). The BIEDP results from the integration of findings from all education sectors – Early Childhood Development, the Foundation and Intermediate Phases, Further Education and Training, and Adult Education. The Plan not only includes recommendations for each of these sectors but also identifies the core factors imperative to its success as:
- Central to the core factors is the integration of all local educational activities and services
- Addressing barriers to access of quality education by all learners including those with special needs
- Establishing a learner support system at every learning site
- Linking education to the world of work and opportunity
The intention of this MoU is to: emphasise the recognition of mutual accountability among stakeholders within the Bitou education sector; enhance the quality of the education journey of Bitou learners; establish and sustain a culture of collaboration to ensure a holistic approach to education development in Bitou. We have every reason to be excited!
Fundraising Drive
We have embarked on an essential and aggressive corporate fundraising drive – without funding we are unable to implement, monitor, evaluate or sustain any of our programmes which are so critically needed in Bitou; our sincere thanks to local Fundraising Specialist Andy Smit who has volunteered to head up this vital arm of our organisation.
People on the move
Siphiwe has tendered his notice as Foundation Manager after three years of service. Our hearts are heavy as he has been a rock solid member of our team, consistently delivering unfailing efficiency, foresight and remarkable understanding of community issues – he will be sorely missed. We wish him and his wife Eugenia well in their new business venture.
Consequently Gugu Zulu has joined the team as Foundation Manager; she has been in training with Siphiwe for the past two weeks. Welcome aboard, Gugu, may ours be a long and happy union!
We have seen a few necessary additions to our Board of Directors which we believe is now reflective of our community and its education stakeholders; our Board members currently are:
Peter Wallington – Chairman; Hilary Matthews – Executive Director; Viv Mennell – Financial Director; Thembinkosi Henge – Local Integrated Development; Andre Bouwer – High School Principals Representative; Xola Faku – Primary School Principals Representative; Hilary Dunn – Early Childhood Development; Andy Taylor – Education Specialist; Johan Ryk – Education Specialist; Leonie Baynes – Legal Advisor
Suzette de Villiers, WCED Circuit 4 Team Manager has become an ex officio member of the Board; Deon van Eck of South Cape College takes up his duties as Further Education and Training Representative as of next month.
Management and Leadership workshop
It is the belief of both The Bitou 10 Foundation and the WCED that unless all our schools understand and implement management practices and accept responsibility to lead, the ambitious Literacy and Numeracy targets set by Minister Motshekga are unlikely to be met.
To this end we hosted a workshop on Saturday 26 March which was attended by 77 School Management Team members from all of the 11 Bitou schools; the workshop was presented by Education and Training Consultant Bev Booker and endorsed by Circuit 4’s Suzette de Villiers. Suzette has undertaken to ensure that her team holds Principals, SMTs and teachers accountable for the application and implementation of the mutually agreed upon monitoring measures. Suzette had this to say to us after the workshop: “A big thank you for what I consider a breakthrough and miracle Saturday – not one negative note, only lifted spirits all round. We are ever grateful to you.” Our grateful thanks to Father Johan for his ongoing support through making the St Christopher Church hall available as a venue time and again.
Encouraging words indeed, there is hope for the education system in Bitou!
Source: Bitou 10 Education & Development Foundation