FLIPPING BOOK CHRONICLE 2024

Project Champion: Andrew Schaefer

The team are very excited to have added basic optometry screening to their services. The aim is to screen learners on the same day as their weight and height are measured. We want to voice a huge “Thank-you!” to Spec-Savers, Maritzburg Arch, for training us, as well as donating the charts, lenses and other resources. This has been an especially valuable service for St Raphael’s to offer, as many rural learners will never be screened for vision problems during their school careers. As part of their social responsibility programme, Spec-Savers also provides a free full evaluation and glasses to needy children aged 6 to 12. IMPROVING SCHOOL FUNCTIONALITY IMPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL COMPETENCE; IMPROVED DIGNITY THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENT During 2022 the MCPT signed a memorandum of understanding with the MEC for Education in KwaZulu-Natal. In essence the document provides that on an annual basis the MCPT will evaluate its 16 footprint schools with a key focus on three areas: instructional functionality, infrastructural functionality and leadership functionality. In an annual report to the department, the MCPT will reflect on what the needs are in these three areas and in particular what remedial action has been taken and will be taken. It is hoped that a co-operative and collaborative relationship will develop which will encourage the Department of Education to assist where it can in improving our footprint schools as functional places of learning. Funding has been raised for much of this work, but the need is considerable. PARTNERS FOR POSSIBILITY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT; NETWORKING AND ENGAGEMENT Partners for Possibility (PfP) is an NGO operating in 1 740 schools in all nine provinces. Its primary objective is to engage under-resourced school principals in a co-action and co-learning partnership with business leaders, who share their knowledge and skills with the leadership of the schools. Learning circles of eight principals and eight business leaders are formed to enable this. Over the past three years PfP has established three circles engaging with 24 schools in the KZN Midlands with considerable support from MCPT. The PfP programme is a year long, with three key interventions: Time to Think (Nancy Kline), where role players engage in conversations with partners as equals; Flawless Consulting, where listening, collaborating and charting a way forward are emphasized; and Community Engagement, where reaching out to communities – and engaging and understanding them – is emphasized. Diverse thinking is encouraged as a means of grappling with serious issues and challenges in education and the socio-economic system 117 Project Champion: Dr Sam Lindsay Project Champion: Steuart Pennington and MCPT Team

ED-TECH EQUIPPING CLASSROOMS WITH WI-FI, TEACHING AIDS AND DATA PROJECTORS The aim of e-learning is to improve leaners’ computer skills while giving access to outstanding learning content. Two educational software programmes are used, namely Ligbron e-Learning System and CAMI. The Ligbron e-Learning System has been in place at Shea O’Connor for a number of years. Jabula was recently added on to the programme and it is creating more interest in the subjects of mathematics and science. Some of our footprint schools were equipped with computers for the purposes of developing computer skills, but few of the classes are properly equipped with whiteboards, laptops, data projectors and the necessary security for ed-tech to take place. Many of our teachers are not equipped to use ed-tech and require training to move away from chalk and board methodology. Funding for this project is required. We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to our UK supporters, who enabled a significant donation of 91 HP800 desktops to our rural under-resourced KZN schools. What a team effort! Ross Cockburn from Re-using IT directed the devices to us through the Scottish installation team from Computers for Africa: Terry, Ken and Keith. Paul Tomlinson from Rotary and Jon Bates, Michaelhouse community stalwart, gathered the partnerships. The Midlands Community College provided storage and a distribution hub, Dynalogica supported the installation/uptake needs at the schools, Partners for Possibility selected schools with active leadership in education and the MCPT provided ongoing IT workshops to support technology in education. ST RAPHAEL’S ECD CENTRES; COMMUNITY HEALTH AWARENESS St Raphael’s is the longest-running project, providing basic health care to the greater Michaelhouse community. The team is made up of one medical doctor and three caregivers, who refer clients directly to the doctor at the Balgowan clinic if necessary. Our home visits and community involvement have highlighted several scenarios which we have been able to help with in a variety of ways. These include: counselling sessions, transporting patients to the clinic, and assisting families get legal documents. In 2024 the St Raphael’s team continued to focus on working in schools, measuring the weight and height of learners in the MCPT footprint schools. The World Health Organization defines the double burden of malnutrition as “the coexistence of undernutrition along with overweight, obesity or diet-related non-communicable diseases within individuals, households and populations, and across the life-course”. Bearing this in mind, learners are screened and referred to the Balgowan clinic. Those who are stunted/underweight, as well as those who are overweight, receive care. So far the team have screened more than 600 primary school learners. Project Champion: Andrew Schaefer