Purpose
The quality of maths and science education in South Africa has long been a cause of concern to education stakeholders. It impacts negatively on learner outcomes and limits the numbers of those eligible to study for and pursue professions requiring these skills, thereby restricting economic growth.
BRIDGE’s Maths and Science Community of Practice brings together practising educators, programme implementers and key investors supporting Maths and Science education, and provides a forum to maximise their collective efforts to improve the quality of Maths and Science education and increase the number and quality of graduates.
The CoP began as a result of research and convening work undertaken by BRIDGE during 2010. This led to discussion and exchange within this community, which led in turn to new engagements and partnerships among innovators.
Key Activities
This community maintains a structured cycle of quarterly meetings addressing matters of interest and importance to its members. A recurring topic for exploration is the pedagogical content knowledge required by teachers of maths and science. In addition, the many factors that influence successful teaching and learning in these domains are frequently debated.
Meetings are structured around inputs by community members or invited experts and encourage hands-on participation, reflection and the sharing of information, experience and working practice.
Link to the BRIDGE Knowledge Hub for meeting highlights, presentations, tools and documented working practice from this community.
Contact: benter@bridge.org.za
Purpose
The Post-school Access Community of Practice considers issues relating to post-school opportunities and pathways for South Africa’s youth. This covers a broad spectrum ranging from formal institutional education and training to workplace learning and informal skills acquisition, and includes youth employability and policy developments in these areas.
This community of practice began as the Tertiary Access Focus Group, an action group set up by higher education bursary providers to explore their common interests. It subsequently evolved into a community with a wider focus on the post-school terrain in general.
Key Activities
Quarterly meetings focus on exploring and understanding issues of interest and importance to this community. These meetings have generated activity in smaller action groups which take particular issues forward.
One example of significant achievement by this community has been the mapping of post-school education, training and informal learning opportunities through the Post-school Access Map. This systems map has influenced ways of thinking about career information repositories and career guidance in various sectors, including government. Click here to view the Map. Another example has been the sharing of information and collaboration around bursary opportunities.
Link to the BRIDGE Knowledge Hub for meeting highlights, presentations, tools and documented working practice from this community.
Contact: benter@bridge.org.za
Purpose
Established in early 2017, this CoP provides its members with a platform for connecting and sharing with like-minded organisations. CoP members all work with young people and are concerned to understand the post-school terrain and its implications as a starting point for any intervention.
Key Activities
During its first year CoP members engaged with BRIDGE’s Post-school Access Map as well as other career path maps and considered their completeness and applicability. This led to a recognition that readiness for the workplace and future career success require a range of other, softer ‘21st century’ skills, not only the qualifications on the NQF framework.
The CoP also sought to identify the blockages that prevent available information reaching learners and their families. This showed that access to the internet, and especially access to sufficient data to browse online maps, remains a significant hurdle. Lack of awareness by schools and NGOs and a narrow focus on core mandates are also significant obstacles.
Possible future activities include developing descriptions of ‘21st century’ skills and how they can be taught, and playing a role in overcoming some of the barriers to disseminating information about post-school options.
Link to the BRIDGE Knowledge Hub for meeting highlights, presentations, tools and documented working practice from this community.
Contact: info@bridge.org.za
