Local schools chosen for global conference

FOUR Cape Town schools have been chosen to be part of 100 that will gather online in what has been billed as the “world’s biggest education conference” to share expertise and best practice in the inaugural World Education Week, to be held next month.

Hyacinth Primary School in Lentegeur was chosen for its promotion of the science of learning and teaching; the Learn to Live School of Skills in Greenpoint and Pinelands High School were picked for programmes to enhance employability, entrepreneurship, and life skills; and Parklands College in Table View was selected for its use of technology.

Hyacinth Primary school teacher Kurt Minnaar said World Education Week would provide a platform for schools all over the world to create, learn and innovate together, improving education from inside the classroom out.

Minaar said it was an honour to have been selected as one of the 100.

“Pupils and teachers of Hyacinth Primary School are excited to be part of this epic global showcase,” he said.

The Learn to Live School’s Acting

Principal, Rodney Abrahamse, said the week would allow them to learn and innovate.

Vikas Pota, a globally respected leader and driving force in education, international development, philanthropy and technology sectors, congratulated all four schools on being selected.

Pota said he was incredibly inspired by the schools that applied to take part in this year’s World Education Week. He said they were committed to improving the lives of their pupils by nurturing expertise and wanting to share their experience with others.

Andreas Schleicher, the director for education at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, said what was exciting about World Education Week was the idea of schools around the world sharing their expertise.

Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said she was pleased to have the four schools representing the province.

Schäfer said the Covid-19 pandemic had closed down travel, but had opened up new “virtual opportunities” that could enable them to forge international partnerships that would enable them to showcase what they were doing, and to share experiences.