Training Teachers to be Environmental Educators

NEED

South Africa faces many serious environmental challenges. While it can boast some of the richest biodiversity in the world, many species of flora and fauna are under threat due to habitat loss, pollution and global climate change. Key to addressing these issues is proper environmental education in Schools. Many South African teachers, however, lack the requisite knowledge and skills to deliver quality environmental education. Teacher training is thus a major priority for improving the standard of environmental education in schools, a vital step in protecting our environment.

OVERVIEW

The Western Cape Primary Science Project (PSP) started in 1985 and provides in service training to teachers on the critical learning areas of the Natural Sciences (including Environmental Education), Language, Mathematics and the Social Sciences. The PSP offers a variety of courses for teachers in primary schools and develops learning materials together with teachers and offers support in their classes.

The Hands on the Environment Project is an integral part of a much bigger project called the Innovation Project, which is a core programme of the PSP. The teachers in the Hands on Environmental Project, who are from disadvantaged primary schools attend the courses for free. They learn about topics such as Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Adaptations and Environmental Change etc. They also are given an opportunity to bus their learners to the PSP facility located at the Edith Stephens Wetland Park (ESWP), a significant conservation area with unique biodiversity, for hands-on environmental learning.

ESWP is unusual in that it is located very close to the sub-economic communities of Manenberg, Hanover Park, Guguletu, Philippi, Cross Roads, Nyanga, Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain. This is an ideal place for learners in these communities to have hands on experience of the local environment and improve their knowledge and understanding of natural ecosystems.

All activities are practical and will engage learners in scientific processes that will promote thinking and problem solving. Each outing will therefore be an enriching and enjoyable experience for learners and teachers. Visiting the park at different times of the year will enable learners to see the changes that occur in the different seasons.

There will be six Hands on Environmental courses for teachers during the year. Each course will combine Environmental work in the field with some Natural Sciences content. Each course will combine practical work in the field, investigating a particular aspect of the environment at ESWP, with classroom based work on the second day. The natural sciences content will provide some of the essential concepts for understanding the importance of the field work. In addition all work will integrate with language development techniques and maths skills.

After the teachers’ course each term, three schools are identified to bus their learners to the park for a day’s visit. During this visit learner activities will be led by PSP facilitators and conservationists from the City of Cape Town together with their teachers. This work forms part of their formal work programme. A minimum of 12 school visits will therefore be run at the ESWP through the year.

WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

• The Hands on the Environment Project incorporates environment and conservation principles into the school curriculum. In addition it provides teachers with practical strategies for integrating maths, science and language into environmental topics.
• The project is designed to develop primary school teachers’ own knowledge and skills.
• This project also provides teachers with materials to support learning. All teachers participating in the programme will receive copies of relevant materials, including an environmental handbook for Edith Stephens Wetland Park, developed by the PSP.
• Learners will have an opportunity to visit the Edith Stephens Wetland Park and experience practical environmental activities on site.

IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS

300 teachers will benefit from the Innovation Project workshops and courses. Of these, 12 will have an opportunity to bring their learners to the park for environmental learning. 270 learners will visit the park and gain directly from the PSP facilitated environmental experiences. The three hundred teachers reach approximately 30 000 learners collectively.

Each teacher attending the courses will receive environmental teaching materials including books, indigenous plant and animal cards and posters.

The expected life change

A funding grant of R1, 065 874.00 over three years would make it possible for the Primary Science Programme to positively impact on the lives of 30 570 teachers and learners collectively.

The estimated cost per life change is R34.

ORGANISATIONAL CAPACITY

The PSP understands that to ensure quality primary school education for learners, teachers must have the necessary content knowledge and resources to teach confidently. The organisation’s projects respond to a clear need for teacher training and support. PSP works very closely with the Western Cape Education Department to ensure the alignment of its materials with the school curriculum.

With funding limitations, PSP is not able to scale up their program offering to other areas. However, through their relationship with the Education Department, PSP is able to share their information and enable the wider adoption of its model nationally.

PSP receives financial support from over 15 funders and has acquired 27 322 shares on the Sasol Inzalo Share scheme as an initial investment for their endowment.

RISK PROFILE

Key Strengths

• Capability: The PSP employs high quality, experienced education specialists to facilitate the in-service training. Each term a programme of courses is run for teachers from disadvantaged primary schools at no cost to the teacher.
• Control: PSP’s relationship with the Education Department ensures that the teachers will be more confident of incorporating the environmental education principles into lessons in the classroom. In addition, teachers who opt to bring their learners to the Edith Stephens Wetland Park for lessons will provide PSP with an opportunity to monitor the quality of information that is given to learners.

Key Risks - Low

• Concept: The project relies on the teachers to select the learners to visit the Edith Stephens Wetland Park for the environmental learning. This means some learners will not have an opportunity to experience the park.
• External: Much of PSP’s work is dependent on the smooth running of the school year. In cases where there are teacher strikes or disruptions to learning that may affect the availability of teachers and learners to participate in the programmes, the project may also suffer disruptions.
• Sustainability: Teachers attend the training free of charge. While this model ensures attendance it means the project is dependent on funding to be implemented.