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Great seminar in Pretoria
Strengthening civic education in institutions of learning

We enjoyed a productive meeting of our steering committee created jointly with diverse stakeholders to collaborate in facilitating civic education.

Group picture: Productive meeting with the steering committee on civic education

Productive meeting with the steering committee on civic education

HSF

This week our Civics Academy organised a meeting of the steering committee on civic education which was established in 2019 to strengthen civic education in TVET colleges (providing Technical and Vocational Education and Training) with representatives from the Department of Higher Education, the Independent Election Commission, the Department of Basic Education and the team of Hanns Seidel Foundation’s Civics Academy.

Through our valued partnership with the Department of Higher Education and Training we have:

  • Created a modern Lecturers' Guide on "Facilitating Active Citizenship", using videos and role plays which is being used in Life Orientation lessons on Citizenship in TVET colleges. Download the guide here: https://civicsacademy.co.za/resources/.
  • Trained more than 400 life orientation lectures from all TVET colleges in South Africa on how to use the Guide to facilitate fun & interactive classes that promote active citizenship and voter education.
  • Evaluated the implementation of the teacher’s guide.

About 70 more lecturers were trained on Thursday 30 March following the meeting of the steering committee.

We are grateful to the Deputy Director General of the Department of Higher Education and Training, Mr Sam Zungu, who expressed great support for this project at the seminar, highlighting the importance of collaboration between government and civil society to strengthen civic education in society.

Successful democracies depend on the active participation of informed citizens and a deeper understanding of issues affecting society. One of “our” Life Orientation Champions (brilliant teacher) and education specialist on the panel, Ms Bianca Roberts,  rounded off the discussion by stating that "Institutions of learning play a crucial role in cultivating the next generation of citizens, and it is critical to strengthen the civic education programs within them."

 

 

 

 

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