Using practical projects to ignite learners future careers and connect their natural talents with opportunities through education

1. Using practical projects to ignite learners future careers and
connect their natural talents with opportunities through
education
By Phuti Ragophala(Retired School principal and MIE Trainer)
Email: phuthi.ragophala@gmail.com
Blog post: http://itandiksproject.blogspot.com
Contact: 082 839 3642

2. OVERVIEWOFTHESCHOOL
• The school started in 1966
• Built in a semi rural area
with 1324 learners from
grade R to 7 using only 20
classrooms with 35
educators(ratio:66 per
class)
• Three phases: Foundation,
Intermediate and senior
doing various learning
areas, projects and
activities to augment their
learning
• Celebrated 50 years
anniversary in 2016
• Many projects but Talk

3. Practical projects
• Farming: Through skills acquired from FTFA we started Greening projects to
supply the community, instil farming skills to learners, fight poverty. Main aim
:To re assure community that they can produce their own food without relying
on hand-outs from municipality ,to inspire future farmers & maintain peace
• Maintain peace and justice, No poverty and good health and well being
Addressed UNESCO Sustainable Development Goal Number 1 and 16

5. • IKS in medicine: Through skills acquired from FTFA and UNILIM I and my
colleques learnt on how to use green herbs to make ointments and e we
transferred the skills to learners to unlock their critical and creative skills :
Harvesting, mixing, cooking, packaging and labelling and sell to augment
school funds, gain knowledge and to inspire their career choice
• Quality education, good health and well being, reducing inequality in
education
Addressing UNESCO SDG’s number 3 and 4

6. Accomplishing my Young Scientist dream
Stephen
Mafokoane <stephen.mafokoane@gmail.com>
to me
Greetings Ma'am
Apr 30 (4 days ago)
My name is Stephen Mafokoane, I am not quite sure that you remember me, I was in the 2011 group.
Right now I am in my first year at Pearson Institute, doing Biotechnology/Pharmacy.
Basically, you made me to choose this lane, you made me to have love for herbs and medicine.
So I want to return to the community, and only you can help me with that.
I am thinking of using The Grade 7 Theory lesson on sectors of economy. The one about how products are
made fron raw materials until packed.
My aim right now is to produce those medicines again, and help kids. With you not being at Pula-Madibogo
anymore, some kids might struggle with the head sores, fungi etc.
So ma'am, I cannot start this without you, you have the methods, you have more knowledge on this. And
this is your project, I could not just hijack it.
All I need is your help, confirmation and blessings.
Stay blessed.
Regards

7. Teaching with technology :Through the skills from the then MASTEC ,Microsoft
,School Net and COZA CARES once every Friday(FRIDAY TECHNOLOGY) I take
learners in our mini media lab to use the tools to augment their learning. Some
time they skype with schools outside the country about collaborative projects like
reading, national symbols etc. The main aim being to create global citizens who will
be able to compete globally with their peers.#Teachersmatter #COCREATESA
Addressing UNESCO SDG number 4 and 5

8. SCHOOOL PREFECTS with potential leadership skills

9. THE FIRST GROUP OF OWLAG GIRLS IN 2006

10. Community members whose career was
changed for good through technology tools

11. • The school can be a hub of service delivery beyond writing and
reading
• Incorporating the UN SDG in teaching and learning objectives,
makes teaching and learning to be more lively
• The use of practical projects in teaching turn learners into job
creators than job seekers at the end of their studies(PBL approach)
• Engaging learners in collaborative projects with learners outside
guarantees learners global citizenship
• Educators are less authoritative/ no longer source of information
• Own model c school is possible in the village
Lesson learnt

12. Private
companies:CPSI,Luna
Films
University and former
student for plough
back.Avusheni
Microsoft, COZA CARES,
SCCHOOL Net, FTFA,and
Business people SAPS
Dep Officials
and sister
departments
SGB and
Parents
Educators
Learners
It takes the whole community to raise up a child
12
PARTNERSHIP

13. Tangible difference made by using Practical projects
• Employed unemployed school parents to render service in
greening projects
• Alleviated poverty in many families
• Augmented school funds to benefit the orphans educational
needs
• Produced learners who are now global citizens
• Parents ownership of school has improved a lot/ less vandalism
• School of choice
• Migration of learners from village to former Model c schools is
fairly reduced

14. Challenges
• Many unemployed parents who cannot be all
accommodated in the school projects
• Limited technology resources
• Sceptic people about IKS in medicine project
• Many of may colleques are still ore on theory than
practical(PBL) still believe in standing infront of children and
bach
• Our province is not implementing Operation Phakisa in ICT
as such many schools are strangers in ICT field

15. 6th World Congress in Education 23rd and 24th November 2017
• I am invited to attend 6th World Education Congress at
Taj Lands End in Mumbai ,India as a nominee to
receive Education Leadership award.
• Get inspired