EC EDUCATION HOSTS RURAL EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE

The Eastern Cape Department of Education in partnership with Axium, a non-profit organization, recently hosted a two-day conference in East London. Themed "Education Partnership to Strengthen Pathways for Rural Youth”, the conference brought together district officials, education specialists, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving literacy and numeracy among rural learners. Axium has been working closely with the Amatole East and OR Tambo Education Districts to achieve this goal.

Zanokhanyo Ntlaka, Circuit Manager Centre (CMC) Head in Willowvale, in the Amathole East District expressed satisfaction with the partnership, citing significant improvements in National Senior Certificate (NSC) results. "It's been a rollercoaster ride, but we see progress in the work we've been doing”, Ntlaka said.

The partnership in Ntlaka's CMC operates in seven primary schools and one high school, with a three-fold approach focusing on governance, management, and academics. "A partnership needs to be harnessed, and support must be holistic," Ntlaka added.

Axium Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Craig Paxton highlighted the organization's various programs in schools and communities across the districts. "We've seen improvements not only in pass rates but also in learners' understanding of their schoolwork," said Paxton.

Citing the Nobalisa programme as a success story, where they employ young people to work as reading and numeracy facilitators, Paxton added that they have seen impressive improvements in learners’s reading skills and results.

Eastern Cape Department of Education MEC, Fundile Gade emphasized the importance of critical debates on how learners can contribute to the ocean economy and ensuring sustainable systems that will outlast the current education sector stakeholders.