Novus Holdings donated R100000 to the development of mathematics teachers. Teachers play an important role in society; they have the opportunity to impact lives and shape the future of learners, their families, and their communities.
This is especially true in South Africa, which was rated last in the world out of 146 countries, for maths and sciences in the ‘Global Information Technology Report 2014’.
Mathematics and its concepts are important in almost every industry, especially noting technological advances and job opportunities within a rapidly developing South Africa.
Understanding that teachers are vital in driving and advancing education, especially maths in South Africa, Novus Holdings has donated R100000 to the Principals Academy Trust, which will be used to fund the running of the Subject Intervention workshops.
These workshops focus on upskilling mathematics teachers in the curriculum and also offer them assistance with the Annual National Assessments, a standardised national assessment issued by the Department of Basic Education and the systemic tests issued by the Western Cape Education Department.
Novus Holdings, formerly known as the Paarl Media Group, is one of the most technologically advanced print and manufacturing operations in Africa.
The Principals Academy Trust, a Section 18(a) Trust, seeks to turn public schools serving socio-economically disadvantaged communities into ‘Centres of Excellence’ by focusing on improving school leadership and teaching.
The Trust offers, at no cost, academic training for their principals at the UCT Graduate School of Business, coaching /mentoring by experienced retired school principals for a minimum of three years, as well as weekly Subject Intervention workshops at selected schools to assist mathematics teachers in Grades 4, 5, and 6. These workshops are facilitated by Annette Champion and Dorothy Raine, who are highly experienced mathematics teachers.
The donation is in line with Novus Holdings’ Future Foundations Initiative, which was established in 2015 with a focus on improving education across the country, not only in the short term, but with a far longer reaching effect.
‘We believe that providing the right type of support will help build strong foundations for education and future growth,’ said Peter Metcalfe, Group Executive of Sales and Marketing at Novus Holdings. ‘By contributing to the training of the teachers, they will be better equipped to develop and empower their learners.’
The Group is also providing support through the printing of some of the teaching collateral.
Through the Subject Intervention workshops, which began in 2014, teachers improve their own understanding of math processes and concepts and learn how they can add an element of fun into the lessons, which helps to improve engagement and learning.
The workshops are held at schools in Grassy Park, Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Athlone, Phillippi, Gugulethu, and Lotus River. There are a total of 64 teachers in 19 schools who attend regularly. Following the success of the Grades 4, 5, and 6 workshops, the Trust plans to extend the programme to Grades 7, 8 and 9 in Gugulethu and Khayelitsha.
‘Our teachers are our most valuable assets. There are classes with 40–50 learners, with some of these learners being extremely weak or having severe learning problems. The support from Novus Holdings will definitely go a long way to help our teachers,’ said Joanne Haw, Programme Coordinator, of the Principals Academy Trust.
Novus Holdings also works with youth through their Novus Academy, which launched in 2011 and is committed to increasing relevant knowledge and skills valuable to the print manufacturing industry, and setting new standards in printing and related business skills in Africa.
