We, the ambassadors of TEACH South Africa, pledge to be the best teachers we can be. We will work relentlessly to improve learner achievement and promote quality education to make success sustainable.
“We are prepared to be learning mediators who interpret learning programmes and design lessons by planning purposefully and executing effectively.
“We will be leaders, administrators and managers who set a realistic but ambitious vision, which will be achieved by motivating learners and parents alike.
“By being assessors, scholars, researchers and lifelong learners who improve continuously, we will be respected learning area and subject specialists. Above all, we will assume active citizenship and pastoral roles in our school communities…”
This pledge was taken at a dinner held in honour of TEACH South Africa’s 2010 ambassadors who recently completed their Academy Classroom Teaching Orientation Programme.
The organisation, which recruits talented university graduates and trains them to teach at local disadvantaged schools for a minimum of two years, is confident that the awards dinner will go a long way in inspiring this group of ambassadors to make a positive contribution to education in South Africa.
Graça Machel attended the awards ceremony and offered the TEACH ambassadors some words of wisdom about teaching in disadvantaged communities: “You have to inspire, motivate and engage learners in a process during which you pass knowledge through to them.”
She congratulated the ambassadors for choosing to be part of the TEACH South Africa movement and wished them the best for the challenges that lie ahead.
Deidre Penfold, chief executive officer of TEACH South Africa, used the dinner to thank all the ambassadors for volunteering their services in this call to action.
She also acknowledged the sponsors and parties involved in the initiative.
The TEACH South Africa concept is proving to be a captivating one – and the organisation is expecting to double the number of its ambassadors by 2011.
The project already has transcended Gauteng, with ambassadors being placed in schools in the Western Cape and Limpopo provinces as well.
A Western Cape awards ceremony is planned, which will see ambassadors in those communities recognised and rewarded for their hard work and dedication to the organisation, as well as Africa.
The organisation further hopes to see this group of ambassadors eventually form an alumni movement, which will assist the creation of educational equality for learners in South Africa.
There is no doubt that this welcome dinner has signalled a very promising start to 2010 for education in this country.
The TEACH South Africa initiative is sure to go a long way in closing the gaps that exist in the country’s current education system. As such, the organisation’s contribution is sure to be extremely meaningful – as well as significant.
“We look forward to recruiting more ambassadors and working with them to grow and educate the people of our country and, eventually, the broader African continent,” concludes Penfold.
About Teach SA
The organisation was started by the South African business community in direct response to finding ways to improve South Africa’s economy.
After years of researching educational initiatives around the world, the TEACH South Africa founding members decided to be part of the solution by placing highly skilled and motivated recent university graduates in the classroom.
Not only will this benefit the learners and help close the achievement gap that persists in South Africa, but it also prepares a generation of learners to be better prepared for university and the workplace.
Should you require more information on TEACH South Africa, visit www.teachsouthafrica.org.
Michelle Venter
