While most teachers were still on holiday, the second cohorts of Advanced Diplomas in Education (ADEs) students came together in the Western and Northern Cape from 6 – 10 January for their first contact sessions of the new year. 

After successfully completing their first year, and encouraged by the graduation of the first cohort in December 2019, the ADE students in both the Northern Cape and Western Cape started off their second year with confidence and enthusiasm. In the Western Cape the ADE students gathered at the Cape Teaching and Leadership Institute (CTLI).  The student cohorts in the Western Cape, comprised of 25 IP mathematics teachers and 21 SP natural science teachers, from all education districts.  In the Northern Cape the ADE students were hosted at the Curro Kathu Independent school.  The Northern Cape cohorts consist of 23 FET mathematics, 31 SP mathematics and 26 SP natural science teachers, recruited from the JTG and ZFM education districts in the Northern Cape and from the Thabazimbi municipal district in Limpopo.  

They came together with great expectation for the week ahead and excitement to see one another again. Teachers were ready and open to be exposed to new concepts and new pedagogical strategies. Despite the early start to the year, attendance for the January 2020 contact session, in both the Northern and Western Cape, was close to 100%. The students contributed to discussions and collaborated well in their groups; they were actively involved in their own learning and reflected in depth about their own teacher practice. 

The content covered was closely linked to their CAPS curriculum pacesetter and much time was spent on planning and preparing the content for teaching. The next contact session is scheduled for the March 2020 and June 2020 school holidays, with graduation of the successful candidates envisaged for December 2020.