According to Professor Denise Zinn, dean of NMMU education faculty, the faculty will be bringing their curriculum in line with the National Education Department's new policy of 'More Teachers, Better Teachers' in 2016 and could therefore not accept any intakes during the following two years.
As part of this year's NMMU George's open days, the NMMU George Education Sector /Stakeholder Breakfast and Acknowledgement of Top Partner Schools 2013 was hosted by Principal, Dr Quinton Johnson on Saturday morning, during which Prof Zinn delivered a thought provoking and optimistic talk about the future of education within South Africa.
Hoërskool Outeniqua and Oudtshoorn, Point High School, as well as York High School, Imizamo Yethu, George and Bridgton Secondary Schools, Oakdale Agricultural School, Langenhoven Gymnasium and Brandwag Hoërskool were amongst the NMMU George partner schools acknowledged during the breakfast.
Hoërskool Outeniqua was also acknowledged for contributing significant numbers of students for Port Elizabeth based programmes of NMMU.
Prof Zinn shared her education faculty's mission: "To be a dynamic community of teachers, leaders and scholars in education, committed to creating a vibrant, socially just and democratic society."
Throughout her address she had the breakfast attendees transfixed as she explained what her faculty thinks of education, giving special reference to its vision as well as its mission. She assured that the education faculty of NMMU is committed to cultivating passionate, engaged, knowledgeable, effective and compassionate teachers, researchers and leaders. She added that these new educators would leave the university as critical thinkers and agents of hope, change and social justice.
Asked by Estelle van Rooyen, acting George Library manager what Prof Zinn's faculty was doing to assist with the immediate education problems within the country, especially the Eastern Cape's schools, Professor Zinn excitedly told of the university's Centre for the Community School (CCS), which aims to promote, strengthen and support the work of community schools within the Eastern Cape. She added that these schools are actively involved in building partnerships with parents, the broader community and other education stakeholders to support the academic and social development of children and young people.
At the end of Prof Zinn's extremely informative and motivational talk, and following meaningful discussions with various role players, it was decided that the George Herald together with the George Library, NMMU's education faculty, CCS and student body, Super Ed, will assist the many learners who are currently being left behind in literacy and arithmetic.
To reiterate the importance of education, Dr Johnson said that delivering passionate high quality teachers into society was of utmost importance. "We can not fail, we dare not fail," he concluded.
The new Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University newspaper, News, proudly displayed by, from left: MP Sass (NMMU), Ilse Schoonraad (George Herald editor), Prof Denise Zinn (dean of NMMU education faculty), Estelle van Rooyen (acting manager George Libraries), Mortimer van Rooyen (George Secondary School headmaster), Dr Quinton Johnson (NMMU principle) and Dr Bridgette Johnson. Photo: Fran Kirsten
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