CASME Past Programmes

Work in Progress…

Empowering Environmental Education: 2020 Vision

In a world where biodiversity faced imminent threats, 2020 Vision emerged as a beacon of hope, aiming to instill a profound connection to nature in young minds. Recognizing the intricate relationship between plant biodiversity and insect survival, this initiative sought to equip children with the passion and knowledge necessary to address pressing environmental challenges.

BLEND Learning Through Play Foundation Phase Mathematics

BLEND, centered around play-based teaching and learning, focuses on Mathematics education in the Foundation Phase, spanning Grade R to 3, both within KwaZulu-Natal and nationally. It’s a partnership between the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, implemented by VVOB and CASME, and funded by The LEGO Foundation.

Young Scientist Incubation Project

Eskom EXPO for Young Scientists (EXPO) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Science and Technology Education Centre (STEC@UKZN) unite under a common vision to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Innovation (STEMI) in South Africa.

The Young Scientist Incubation Project (Y-SiP) is conceived to actualize shared goals, aiming to elevate science learning outcomes among black learners from township and peri-urban schools. Y-SiP focuses on nurturing investigative and problem-solving skills.

STEAM Foundation NPC: Energy Transfer and Electricity

STEAM prioritised the empowerment of educators, recognising their pivotal role in driving success. Through targeted professional development, STEAM supported educators in under-resourced South African schools, equipping them with practical science teaching skills. Educators benefited from a safe learning environment, embracing inquiry-based and cooperative learning methods. CAPS-aligned materials were curated and adapted, fostering passion and confidence in teaching. These resources were openly licensed as Open Education Resources (OER) to promote accessibility and collaboration. STEAM’s focus extended to building educators’ resilience, enabling them to manage large classes effectively and cultivate positive learning environments. Materials were accredited by SACE, ensuring quality and relevance.

ICT’s in Early-grade Mathematics Education in South Africa: A Learning Brief

Information and communications technology (ICT) holds enormous potential to strengthen mathematics teaching and learning. The assortment of notations, formulae, figures, symbols and graphs in mathematics are sometimes difficult to demonstrate using ‘chalk and talk’ methodologies. With ICT applications, tools and software, this ‘assortment’ can be taught meaningfully and dramatically. The Department of Basic Education’s white paper on e-education, Transforming Learning and Teaching through ICTs, concludes that ICTs can accelerate the achievement of national education goals, so government is keenly aware of this potential

FPSP Repositioned Programme: Recovery and catch-up Support Programme

During the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures affected 1.6 billion learners globally, highlighting significant educational challenges. The Telkom Foundation’s initial diagnostic assessments with grade 9 learners revealed widespread conceptual knowledge and skills gaps, particularly impacting critical subjects like mathematics, languages, and science, stemming from deficiencies carried over from primary school. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) also noted learner dropouts and substantial learning time losses, with about 80% lost in 2020 and 50% in 2021, disproportionately affecting under-resourced schools lacking digital technology access. Although the recent full return to schooling offered some relief, there remained concerns about schools returning to normalcy without structured plans for recovery. CASME, funded by Epoch and Optima trusts, responded with a 12-month intervention from April 2022 to March 2023, focusing on recovery and catch-up support across five feeder primary schools. This initiative included learner support resource packs, teacher training through online courses and onsite visits, assessment tools, and online stakeholder meetings to address the learning gaps and challenges faced during the pandemic.

Subject Advisor Profiling Study South Africa

Subject Advisors play a crucial role in curriculum delivery in schools. Recognizing gaps in information about General Education and Training (GET) phase advisors, the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) requested the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to lead a study. The Deputy-Director General for Curriculum supported this study, aimed at profiling all GET Mathematics and English First Additional Language (EFAL) Subject Advisors to understand their roles, resources, and professional development needs. Conducted by the Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education (CASME) with NECT and the Zenex Foundation, the study ran from July 2019 to October 2020, using a mixed-method approach. Data were collected from 608 advisors via a form tool and 366 advisors via a survey, with 29 qualitative interviews conducted in six targeted districts across three provinces.

Umjikelezo We-Science

Umjikelezo We-Science was a collaborative project between CASME Science2Go, Durban Natural Science Museum (Go Wild), KZN Science Centre, STEC@UKZN, and the UNIZULU Science Centre. The project aimed to bring STEM education to rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal through interactive exhibitions and dynamic science shows, inspired by Dr. Graham Walker’s Science Circus Africa. Targeting Grades 8 to 10, the program sought to engage up to 8,000 learners over an eight-day period, promoting STEM careers and improving enrollment in Physical Sciences and Mathematics. Highlights included science shows, career talks, and hands-on science busking, culminating in a public engagement event to enhance scientific literacy. The pilot phase ran from September 5 to 7 in the greater Ethekwini Municipality, with plans to expand across KwaZulu-Natal. 

Izimpande Zokukhanya

The Zenex Foundation, in partnership with CASME, has launched a five-year project to enhance Maths, Science, and English education in six high schools in KwaZulu-Natal’s Ilembe District. The initiative aims to boost school performance, increase student participation in Maths and Science, and raise the number of learners achieving bachelor passes and scores above 60% in these subjects. CASME will focus on instructional leadership, teacher development, and academic support. Collaborating with ELET, Siyavula, Tsebo Education Network, and the New Leaders Foundation, we are excited to contribute to the educational advancement of the Ilembe District.

DBE: Provision Hands-on Training

In June 2022, a hands-on professional development workshop for Grade 7 Natural Sciences was conducted in Gauteng. The workshop, running from June 20-24, engaged 30 participants, including subject advisors and teachers from five provinces. The training, led by two trainers, focused on conducting experiments and hands-on investigations, with an emphasis on the Grade 7 curriculum. Science kits were provided to each school, and participants were guided on their contents and management. The workshop covered key concepts from Grades 6-8, primarily in Chemistry and Physics, and included the development of an activity booklet and a post-training report.