The School of Education recently co-hosted the relaunched Department of Basic Education (DBE) Care & Support for Teaching Learning (CSTL) workshop on the Edgewood campus.

Selected postgraduate students who are predominantly teachers by profession participated in the workshop. The overall aim was to introduce, capacitate and encourage postgraduate students to deepen their understanding of issues of care and support in teaching and learning, and further engage in research related to care and support in teaching and learning guided by the CSTL framework and pillars.

CSTL is an overarching framework that promotes the educational rights of all children, including those who are most vulnerable, through schools becoming inclusive centres of learning, care and support. The Programme intends to prevent and mitigate factors that have a negative impact on the enrolment, retention, performance and progression of vulnerable learners in schools by addressing barriers to learning and teaching.

It is in partnership with UKZN, UNICEF, MIET Africa, National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and selected universities. The pillars are building a socially cohesive and inclusive school environment; nutritional support; health promotion; infrastructure, water and sanitation; social welfare services; psycho-social support; safety and protection; curriculum support; extra-curricular support and material support.

Under CSTL, there have been six identified areas of development and training for students (about CSTL); a CSTL conference planned for the second semester with a special issue; a research indaba or forum for postgraduate students; as well as a thought leadership programme and CSTL Chair.

The workshop was facilitated by Ms Maureen King from MIET Africa and sponsored by NECT. The UKZN-CSTL committee members are Professor Lebo Moletsane, Dr Nomkhosi Nzimande, Dr Ntokozo Mkhize-Mthembu, Dr Vusi Msiza, Ms Nokukhanya Ndlovu and Ms Nosipho Mbatha.

Ms Ntongolozi Bembe from NECT said, ‘We appreciate the work UKZN has put into organising what turned out to be one of the best CSTL foundation

training workshops, the interaction with students, and their willingness to learn and share experiences contributed immensely to the success of the workshop.’

Ms Maureen King, the lead facilitator added, ‘We have had an amazing three days working with the dynamic UKZN student researchers. Their interactions and contributions were very insightful and demonstrated an understanding of the issues of care and support and an enthusiasm to go back to their work environments and be change agents. This has been encouraging to all.’