Transforming education
In 2010, only 48% of learners who wrote their matriculation examinations in the Fezile Dabi education district in South Africa gained a basic school leaving matriculation certificate while very few gained a university or technical university matriculation pass.
Like many villages and townships in Africa and throughout the developing world, the Fezile Dabi education district is wracked by very high levels of unemployment, a breakdown of family cohesion, family and gender based violence, gangs, substance abuse and high levels of teenage pregnancy.
In 2011/12 BCF trained principals of all under-performing schools in Fezile Dabi. Since then matriculation examination pass rates have increased every year as is demonstrated below.
|
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2019 |
|
Percentage of learners gaining a basic matriculation (school leavers) pass |
48% |
61% |
77% |
91% |
|
Percentage of learners gaining a university or technical university entrance pass |
n/a* |
n/a* |
n/a* |
80% |
* The SA Department of Basic Education did not publish this data until 2015.
Fezile Dabi has been the top performing education district in South Africa for the past three years beating the education in districts in Johannesburg and Cape Town which boast many high performing schools with wonderful facilities which were established more than 100 years ago and attract top teaching talent. The reason Fezile Dabi is the top performing education district, despite all the social ills in its communities is because it does not have under-performing schools.
In 2019, 91% of learners at previously under-performing schools in Fezile Dabi obtained a basic matriculation pass. More importantly, 80% of the learners who sat the exam obtained university or technical university pass. THIS IS A BIG DEAL!!
The International Schools Centre of Excellence Programme is a BCF culture change programme designed to turn every school in each education district into a centre of excellence. It works!!
BCF does not claim it was the sole contributor to the impressive gains made in Fezile Dabi but that it:
1. Provided the catalyst which kick-started the sustainable improvements at each school.
2. Empowered each principal to establish a high-performance culture which enabled every school in the district to journey towards becoming a centre of excellence.
What Principals say about the International Schools Centre of Excellence Programme
Emphasis on ‘catching people doing the right things’ has brought self-responsibility and commitment to individuals. Mr Q Sefudi, Adeline Meje School, South Africa.
The School Management Team (SMT) was able to mobilise all stakeholders (staff, learners, parents and SGB). The SMT managed to implement turnaround strategies e.g. afternoon studies, management of conflicts, rewarding of good and well done jobs. SM Radebe, Principal, Sediba Thuto. South Africa.
The SMT of the School has become the driving force towards performance. George Moleko, Principal, Renyakalletse Primary School, South Africa.
There is now a sense of accountability among educators. J L Mathebula, Principal, Thabang School, South Africa.
We will continue to use the acquired skills to continually improve the way we run our School. T E Tsoelate, Principal, Ntsoanatsatsi Primary School. South Africa.
Every educator wants to see him/herself as a high performer in his/her field. D V Mguce, Deputy Principal, Mahlabatheng School. South Africa.
Punctuality improved considerably. Discipline improved. Communication with parents improved. Performance of the School Governing Body improved. Learner performance was good in both March and June examinations. M T Pitso, Principal, Rebatla Thuto. South Africa. Watch video. This school enjoyed 100% of learners gaining a university or technical university pass in 2018 and 2019!!
See what other Principals say
- Johannes Soetsang tells of the turnaround of his school
- Johannes Masango tells of his school’s journey to become a high performing school
- Freedah Masingi tells of the amazing progress made by her school
- Victor Wisane describes the amazing progress of his school
- Dr Fannie Senolela describes how his school improved its performance
- Joseph Makola describes the journey his school has taken to become a performing school
What HODs say about the International Schools Centre of Excellence Programme
As HOD I now know how to handle teachers and learners showing different emotions, how to work as a team and how to plan – setting target goals and sticking to dates. Ms M H Marametsi, HOD, Kgabareng, Secondary School. South Africa. Watch video.
Transforming family life and communities
Early in 2016 the police commander of the Sasolburg district in South Africa phoned our Community Development Director Pastor Thando Nkosi who had arranged the training of pastors from 74 congregations to present BCFs National Parenting Skills Programme in the Refengkgotso Township during 2014. The Commander told Pastor Nkosi that since parent training had been completed callouts to family and gender based violence were more than 50% down on 2014 and had remained at that level for the next two years.
BCF immediately commissioned a survey of 300 parents in Refengkgotso to discover how application of the skills taught during the National Parenting Skills Programme had impacted on the lives of parents and their children. The report knocked our socks off.
The survey revealed that parents have adopted the values discussed and parenting skills taught during the BCF National Parenting Skills Programme. In their day to day lives parents have replaced family violence and verbal abuse with considered communication; dislike or contempt for their children with understanding and love; dysfunctional family life with loving family life. For a copy of the report please contact our CEO alan@billionchild.org.
To date teachers, pastors and community leaders have trained over 270,000 parents empowering them to transform family life and indeed entire communities.
What Parents Say About BCF National Parenting Skills Programmes
- I now know how to discipline and inspire my child – watch video.
- ‘I used to copy what my parents did – or the opposite – with varying degrees of success. These new skills have opened my eyes and we are making progress I did not think possible.’
- ‘My kids use family meetings to discuss my behaviour! We are a more close-knit family unit – a team if you like!’
- ‘I have discovered that Charlie loves routine. Now he gets up at six, goes to the loo, dresses in strict order, pants, shirt, trousers, etc., eats breakfast, cleans teeth, picks up the bag he packed the previous night and meets me at the door where he expects me to be at 6.45! He gets to school and I get to work on time. It works!’
- ‘Win-Win Parenting has taught me to keep my emotions in check and to keep focus.’
- ‘One-on-one coaching is a winner. Goal setting is the key to future success.’
What Parents say about the Teachers Who Train Them
- ‘Well done! Congrats team on an absolutely polished /professional workshop.’
- ‘Fantastic. This School has a lot of initiative.’
- ‘The presenters did a great job of breaking the ice and making it practical.’
- ‘Well done and well facilitated.’
- ‘Such imagination and creativity. You guys are great!’
What Teachers who present the BCF National Parenting Skills Programme say about the Programme
See videos of teachers in action presenting the BCF National Parenting Skills Programme
What Circuit managers say about the National Parenting Skills Programme
“At 109 schools where the national parenting skills programme has been presented, parent participation in school activities is up, parent involvement in homework completion is up, school attendance is up, homework completion is up, studying for examination is up, results throughout the year are up and the dropout rate has dropped.” Circuit managers Northern Cape, South Africa.
Transforming School Safety
Thousands of schools have no school safety plan and few visible safety signs.
In response to requests from Departments of Education during 2016 BCF developed a mass training programme to assist schools to develop their unique school safety plans and evacuation practices. Training includes rehearsal of safety and evacuation skills with post training monitoring of, and assistance with, implementation.