After School Symposium looks at solutions to opportunity gaps between learners

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), through its After School Programme, will be hosting a variety of events from Thursday, 6 June 2019 until 8 June 2019, as part of its #enrichED Symposium 2019.

The Symposium, hosted at the CTICC, will focus on how the After School Sector can make a powerful impact in addressing South Africa’s education challenges. Speakers include Ugandan chess mentor Robert Katende and chess champion Phiona Mutesi, stars of the film Queen of Katwe, New York Principal Ramon Gonzalez, and Silikamva High School Principal Dianne Morgan. Cape Talk’s Africa Melane will be the Master of Ceremonies.

The symposium will be kicked off with a First Thursdays event, which will be the launch of the Humans of the After School Movement, a project that celebrates the hidden educators of the education sector. This project is an initiative of the After School Programme Office, in partnership with Community Chest.

In well-resourced schools, quality after school activities are taken for granted, programmes are provided consistently and for all learners. In disadvantaged schools, the opposite is too often the case – regular activities managed by schools are not the norm. There is considerable evidence that regular, well-structured after school programmes improve educational outcomes, reduce drop-out rates, increase self-confidence and improve potential for tertiary education and work placement and so the provincial government’s After School Prgramme aims to close this gap.

The #enrichED Symposium 2019 will focus on finding solutions to help close this gap – After School Programmes (ASPs) and the After School Practitioners who work with learners. The symposium programme covers pertinent topics, from ASPs and why they’re important for educational outcomes, the role of practitioners and formalising their field of work, to creating quality ASPs and more.

All media are invited to attend both the First Thursday event, as well as the Symposium.

Launch of the Humans of the After School Movement
Date: Thursday, 6 June 2019
Time: 18:30
Venue: Community Chest, 82 Bree Street, Cape Town

#enrichED Symposium (click here for programme)
Date: Friday, 7 June 2019 – Saturday, 8 June 2019
Time: Fri: 08:00 – 19:00, Sat: 07:00 – 17:00
Venue: CTICC, Convention Square, 1 Lower Long Street, Cape Town