Introduction
Education remains the cornerstone of societal progress and individual empowerment. It will forever be the key to unlocking human potential and driving positive change in our communities and beyond. The ECMSTEP project, which is the partnership between Funda Afrika and Eastern Cape department of education, funded by Tirisano Construction Fund, was conceived, and executed with the vision of improving access to quality education, fostering a love for learning, and bridging educational disparities in three regions of Eastern Cape.The 21st century demands a highly skilled and adaptable workforce, well-equipped to navigate complex challenges and opportunities. Many learners, particularly those in underserved communities, continue to face barriers that impede their educational advancement. The project recognizes the urgency of this situation and seeks to make a meaningful impact on education. By addressing these disparities, the project aims to empower project learners to reach their full potential, promoting social mobility and a more equitable society.
Beneficiary Base
The programme is serving and providing teaching and learning services to 150 learners, with the primary focus in Mathematics and Physical Sciences.Learn More
Additional Information
Teacher Development Sessions
Go Kart Project
Project Successes
Project Challenges
Summary
Teacher Development Sessions
This section of the report covers the development session that was conducted on the 20th of August in East London. The session was conducted by funda Afrika. Three centre managers were in attendance, together with their Mathematics and Physical Sciences teachers. The focus was on planning for the remining two terms, learner performance and plans for improvement. The roles of every stake holder in the project were discussed.
Go Kart Project
Umzuvukile centre hosted the go Kart event on the 14th and the 15th of October 2023. It was joint effort by Funda Afrika, Tirisano as well as Stefanutti Stocks. All the 60 leaners participated, with great excitement and enthusiasm in the construction of the 6 go karts. Participating learners constructed the go Karts on the 14th, and they were put to test on the 15th of October.
Project Successes
The project was able to conduct all the 32 planned contact sessions to the learners in the three centres. The go Kart project was successfully delivered at Umzuvukile centre. The project enjoyed the unqualified commitment of learners in the project activities. On average, the monthly attendance has always been around 90%, which is a good indication of commitment to the project. The learner performance has also improved because of the project intervention.
Project Challenges
The project’ s main challenge has been lack of consistency in terms of work covered at school level. There is no uniformity in terms of syllabus coverage from different schools in the same and different circuits. This is affecting the progress that can be achieved by the project.
Eastern Cape is more rural, and schools are far apart. There is a problem of learner transport which has not been budgeted. Funda Afrika has managed to subsidize schools in learner transport for 2023 academic year.
Generally, the focus is more on grade 12 more than internal grades in most of the schools, thus making it difficult to get the term school-based marks on time for the project learners. The support that the grade 10 learners are getting at school is not good enough to enable them to achieve excellent marks in the academic year.
![](https://www.fundaafrika.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EcmStep-Results.jpg")
Eastern Cape is more rural, and schools are far apart. There is a problem of learner transport which has not been budgeted. Funda Afrika has managed to subsidize schools in learner transport for 2023 academic year.
Generally, the focus is more on grade 12 more than internal grades in most of the schools, thus making it difficult to get the term school-based marks on time for the project learners. The support that the grade 10 learners are getting at school is not good enough to enable them to achieve excellent marks in the academic year.
Summary
The project has been concluded in 2023 academic year and Funda Afrika reflect on the remarkable journey undertaken, the lives touched, and the ripples of positive change that have begun to spread through our community. This project is a testament to the belief that education can be a beacon of hope and opportunity for all. The unwavering commitment to improving access to quality education and fostering a love for learning is yielding transformative results that extend far beyond the classroom. The busy weekend schedule also helps to keep project learners occupied and prevents them from being tempted to be involved in unbecoming behaviour.
The meals that learners receive at the centre helps to provide decent food for children from very disadvantaged families. Funda Afrika, Eastern Cape Education Department would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Tirisano, schools and all those who have supported and contributed to this endeavour. Together, we have sown the seeds of change, and the harvest promises to be bountiful. Our journey in education continues, and the possibilities are limitless.
The meals that learners receive at the centre helps to provide decent food for children from very disadvantaged families. Funda Afrika, Eastern Cape Education Department would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Tirisano, schools and all those who have supported and contributed to this endeavour. Together, we have sown the seeds of change, and the harvest promises to be bountiful. Our journey in education continues, and the possibilities are limitless.