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.