More than 230 matric learners from three high schools participated in a Life Science revision session presented by various departments in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences.
The successful programme, initiated by the Department of Emergency Medical Sciences’ Prof Kareemah Najaar, has been running for the past few years and aims to provide socio-economic disadvantaged students with an opportunity to qualify and apply for science programmes at the tertiary level.
At the first revision session for 2022, Wynberg High School hosted the matric pupils of Lavender Hill High School and Langa High School.
The topics covered by the CPUT students who serve as tutors were selected by the teachers [Ms N. Israel (WHS), Ms M. Lewis (LHHS), and Ms N. Mandongana (LHS)] and revision worksheets were based on the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS).
Najaar said COVID-19 restrictions continued to present the tutors with the challenge of providing face-to-face revision sessions.
“This was easily overcome with the incorporation of the horseshoe shape design (a concept created in 2021), in which desks are spaced adequately apart and students are then able to engage with the tutors who are positioned in the centre of the horseshoe, thus creating safe social distancing.”
Cognisant that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics remain a focus area for the economic growth of the country, “and in the true spirit” of the Community of Practice, the collaborating departments, Emergency Medical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Somatology, Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, Ophthalmic Sciences, and Dental Technology, with the Centre for Community Engagement and Work Integrated Learning’s Service-Learning (SL) division, once again successfully created an environment in which the matric learners were able to attend the revision programme while conforming to COVID-19 protocols physically.
Najaar and Dr Wendy Solomon (Biomedical Sciences) worked closely with department heads, school principals, the respective dedicated Faculty staff, teachers, the Service-Learning division, the CPUT printing division and donors in this successful endeavour.
Najaar believes that the success of this project lies within the principles and implementation of a Community of Practice (CoP), a construct based on “a group of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis”.
“The unselfish and tireless efforts from all stakeholders, particularly the grade 12 learners and the tutors, is why this community project has succeeded since 2018. The continued efforts by the Health and Wellness Sciences lecturers and school teachers to adapt and improve the system to amplify the students’ learning is a testament to their sincerity and dedication to serving the community.”
Written by Ilse Fredericks
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