The British Council has signed a Declaration of Intent (DOI) to work with the South African Department of Basic Education (DBE) to improve the country’s English as a First Additional Language (EFAL) programming and delivery. The signing of the DOI comes following the meeting of UK Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove and South African Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga at last week’s Education World Forum.
A key component of the collaboration centres on improving the quality of teaching of English in schools through implementing two Teacher Training Courses, the Certificates in Primary and Secondary English Language Teaching (CiPELT and CiSELT).
The project will affect all state schools in South Africa and aims to reach 300,000 teachers and 10 million learners, which accounts for approximately 18% of the population.
The project will affect all state schools in South Africa and aims to reach 300,000 teachers
Caroline Grant, English Language Advisor at British Council South Africa, commented: “As the late Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world, so it is fantastic to see this Declaration of Intent formalising an important educative collaboration between the UK and South Africa.”
South African universities have agreed to accredit CiPELT and CiSELT, and online versions of the courses have been developed and will be used to complement the teacher training package. Teacher Unions have also embraced CiPELT and are fully involved in the rollout to schools.
This collaboration supports the South African government’s objectives to improve the quality of teaching of English across the school system with a particular focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom.
Grant added, “Mutual learning has in fact allowed us to make marked improvements in English delivery in South Africa to date through the likes of CIPELT and CISELT teacher training.”
She explained that the signing of the DOI cemented an already-successful partnership between the British Council and DBE. “The recent International Language and Development conference in Cape Town has given vital opportunity to share knowledge and build valuable networks in respect of language learning,” Grant noted.
“This Declaration of Intent will allow us to further progress important English language work in the region and ultimately, to grant future generations access to a better education.”
The British Council and DBE will be responsible for the strategic direction and implementation of the DOI, in close consultation with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in South Africa and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the United Kingdom. The Declaration of Intent will remain in place for five years from the date of signature.
