Pre-school teachers becoming more confident in the classroom
Thu, 26 November 2009
“I didn’t expect to learn that whatever you did you have to trust yourself, as I learned that there is no failure, only feedback.” Sandisiwe – training participant
REPORT 1: The Little Elephant Training Centre for Early Education (LETCEE) Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioner training
This project will enable 12 preschool teachers in deep rural areas of Kwa-Zulu Natal to enhance the quality of education for children in the remote communities where they live. At the end of the 12-month period, the trainees will have attend eight five-day modules that will result in a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 4 professional qualification. During each module the trainee will make or receive the teaching materials necessary for the implementation of the National Curriculum. This will ensure that they are able to take the lessons of the project into the classroom. Each trainee will receive a minimum of three follow-up support visits to their Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre to ensure that the learning is being properly applied.
The project started in April 2009 and will be completed in March 2010.
Outputs and impact
The selection process identified 12 teachers who had shown potential during earlier training, but were unable to proceed with further training without financial assistance. Training activities started in June 2009, and four of the eight modules have been completed.
During the initial training evaluation, trainees experienced an increase in their confidence in the classroom and an overall improvement was seen in the quality of their teaching. Understanding the need for inclusive education towards children with disabilities was another significant change in the trainees’ perceptions.
The training also included practical exercises where the trainees were shown how to make teaching materials and toys from recycled material. This not only helps them to develop skills and creativity, but also contributes to the improvement of the ECD material provision in their schools.
Expenditure
The cost of the project is R132, 600, with R63, 600 still to be paid.
| Description | Total Budget | Total Expenses to date |
| Year one | ||
| Training, assessment | 33 600 | 16 800 |
| Accommodation & meals | 60 000 | 29 600 |
| Training materials | 21 000 | 10 600 |
| Support visits | 18 000 | - |
| Total | 132 600 | 57 600 |
Support visits have not yet taken place because of delays in training implementation, which have affected the overall project action plan. These visits will form part of the next reporting phase.
Challenges
The training was delayed by three months due to logistical reasons (including winter school holidays), but was rescheduled. This also resulted in rescheduling support visits, which will occur in three stages: September/October 2009; January/February and March/April 2010.
Monitoring and evaluation
LETCEE has a continuous monitoring and evaluation protocol which includes registers, reports, discussions and questionnaires to community caregivers and parents in the communities where the 12 trainees operate.
Trainees complete tasks, which are assessed on an ongoing basis. These will eventually be part of a course portfolio, which will be assessed to determine their competence and the awarding of the NQF Level 4 qualification at the end of the year.
In addition, trainees have completed workshop evaluation forms on the four modules conducted, which have shown very positive perceptions of the training.
Conclusions and analysis
At the half-way stage there are already signs of improvement among the trainees. The training is not only providing valuable theoretical input, but it is also teaching and encouraging trainees to make sufficient materials to facilitate the implementation of activities in their own classroom, where resources are often scarce.
Through family and carers’ interviews, the evaluation of the next project phase will reveal the real impact of the training on to the children at the relevant ECD centres, who are the ultimate beneficiaries of this project.
