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Unisa empowers communities through school literacy project

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Unisa’s Gauteng Region, together with the College of Education (CEDU), recently visited the Gauteng Department of Education, Tshwane North District, at the Soshanguve Teacher Centre.

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Seated, from left: Dr Smangele Ntuli, Head: Facilitation of Learning, and School Literacy Project Manager, John Sebothoma, CEDU Project Manager, Dr Musa Hlongwane, Deputy Chief Education Specialist: Policy and Planning at the Gauteng Department of Education, Tshwane North District, and Jeanette Nkosi, Soshanguve Teacher Centre Manager. Standing, from left: Louisa Maile, Regional Academic Coordinator, Tshegofatso Kekane, CEDU Project Administrator, Sello Mashishi, Project Facilities Administrator, Ronald Mulaudzi, Technology Enhanced Learning Coordinator, Mosima Tefo, Regional Academic Coordinator, and Daniel Kekane, Manager: Finance and Operations

The aim of the visit was to establish collaboration with the district on a school literacy project which has the potential to transform the lives of the Soshanguve and Hammanskraal communities.

The project objectives are to

  • train educators in the strategies for teaching learners how to read with meaning
  • impart social media literacy skills to both educators and learners, facilitated by the Communication and Marketing Unit, Gauteng Region
  • equip educators with digital literacy skills, facilitated by Technology Enhanced Learning Unit, Gauteng Region

This project will also benefit students studying through Unisa and residing within these communities.

Jeanette Nkosi, the Centre Manager, and Angie Nyoni received the Unisa delegation warmly. Dr Musa Hlongwane, Director: Tshwane North District, Gauteng Department of Education, expressed her appreciation for having been invited to this inaugural meeting to participate in a project that will advance education and strengthen partnerships for the benefit of the community.

She commented that the fact that Unisa had braved the bad weather to visit the centre was evidence of their determination to change the lives of the communities around them. She further explained that the department is developing a school subject relating to robotics and coding and would like to see it included in the project.

Dr Smangele Ntuli, the project leader and Head: Facilitation of Learning in the Gauteng Region, expressed the hope that the project would be expanded to include other entities, such as the Counselling and Career Development Directorate, to help overcome social ills in the communities.

Asked what the takeaway from this project will be for Unisa, Ntuli responded that the project is part of holistic engaged scholarship at the university and that  a research article is envisaged, since the work is expected to generate new knowledge and improve communities through the introduction of new skills.

* By Maphoshane Mary Marodi, Communications and Marketing Officer, Unisa Gauteng Region

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Publish date: 2025/03/12

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