Women in Education celebrated

The Civic Engagement (CE) Unit, Centre for Community Engagement and Work Integrated Learning, in collaboration with the Faculty of Education celebrated Women in Education recently at Fleur Park, Gordon’s Bay.

The event was in commemoration of women’s month, targeting aspiring and novice teachers and encouraging them to continue the excellent work done in their respective fields by contributing to well-rounded learners within the education system. Participants included, faculties of Education, Health and Wellness, Business and Management Sciences students, Service-Learning staff, novice teachers from the Western Cape government, EduFocus Projects NPO member and the Faculty of Education’s Learning and Teaching Coordinator, Dr Dorothy Esau.

“This CE project was aimed at fostering professional development, empowerment and holistic well-being among women in the education sector. Furthermore, the event provided a platform for educators to discuss and address critical issues pertaining to teaching professionalism, gender discrimination, gender-based violence (GBV) awareness and women’s health,” said Esau.

Presentations delivered at the event included Professionalism in Teaching by B.ED. Hons student, Dealshaad Swart, covering critical issues to effective teaching: knowledge of education policies, subject expertise, work ethics, continuous learning, maintaining a positive disposition, time management, classroom management, conflict resolution and effective communication skills.

Anziré Coetzee, fourth-year B Ed SP/FET phase student focused on addressing gender discrimination and promoting awareness of gender-based violence in school settings. Coetzee’s presentation highlighted the importance of creating safe and inclusive learning environments.

Emergency Medical Sciences students, Nompumelelo Ntuli and Zenobia De Bruin focused particularly on prioritising women’s health issues and holistic well-being with the focal point being around the significance of self-care and practical activities to support participants’ physical and emotional well-being.

The weekend was concluded with a surprise high tea and photo shoot at Krystal Beach Hotel, allowing participants to unwind and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The event was sponsored by EduFocus Projects NPO, the brainchild of Esau. Veteran teachers were invited as special guests and Jolene Martin, lead actress from the local telenovela, Arendsvlei, delivered an impactful, profound, and dynamic keynote address, titled: “Find your light”. Attendees walked away empowered and ready to exude #MainCharacterEnergy.

Jacqui Scheepers, Manager of Service-Learning and Civic Engagement applauds and supports the expansion of this project to include more novice teachers in the following year and commended David Haarhof from the CE Unit for the excellent project coordination. The programme provided a conducive environment for collaborative learning, sharing experiences, and to building a supportive community among women educators. The valuable insights gained during the retreat are expected to have a positive impact on participants' professional growth and the educational landscape.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

Email: boyceap@cput.ac.za