The School of Education hosted its inaugural two-day Children and Youth Festival on the Edgewood campus aimed at primary and high school learners from quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools under the theme: Reading Comes Alive.
The festival offered a range of fun-filled learning activities in which participants explored and engaged in spelling bees, reading, robotics, planting, board games and interacted with an insect display.
Festival organisers, UKZN lecturers Dr Angela James and Dr Blanche Ndlovu responded to the call by the Department of Basic Education for learners to engage in Sciences and Technology education with learning done in a fun way. James and Ndlovu believe it is important for UKZN to work with local schools to enable learners to learn and grow.
“The Festival is important for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to push the Adopt-A-School programme where teachers and learners will share knowledge in a safe learning space,” said James. “This drive is for learners to understand spaces like HEIs that are accessible to everyone. We have a responsibility to promote the University’s community engagement endeavour and to ensure that it is mutually beneficial. The theme of the inaugural festival focused on literacy development amongst learners.”
The Adopt-A-School programme also aims to develop a framework for private partners to assist the Department of Basic Education with teaching and learning.
“We aim to enhance the learning experiences of learners in a different space, like a university, to impart information and skills and to encourage them to attend universities in the future,” said Ndlovu. “We hope to increase the number of schools we work with while educating on Literacies, Science and Technology. We will be responding to a variety of calls such as reading, mathematics teaching and technology, but also making our university spaces visible to communities.”
Grade 2 teacher at Marianridge Primary School in Pinetown, Miss Kaylene Fared found the festival informative and educational for her learners. “This festival gave me the necessary skills to make my learning activities more accessible and fun. It encouraged teachers to think out of the box.”
Grade 3 teacher at Phoenix Heights Primary School Mrs Raksha Ramnath commented that the festival was a source of inspiration for teachers. “Reading is really important at foundation phase as it broadens learners’ abilities to write and builds their vocabulary. It’s great to know that UKZN is taking education seriously, especially in the context of teacher and learner development.”
The festival was held in partnership with and sponsored by the Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education (CASME); KZN Department of Education; eThekwini Municipality; the Science and Technology Education Centre at UKZN; the School of Social Sciences, Umkhumbane Schools Project; 2020Vision; the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, and the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists.
UKZN Education students and festival co-ordinators Ms Phakamile Mazibuko and Mr Sandile Mnyandu were commended for their interaction with the learners on the day.
