Qualification For After School Programme Practitioners Launched

On Sunday 19 November 2017, the Western Cape Government, in partnership with Stellenbosch University (SU), Community Chest and Rutgers University-Newark (USA), proudly launched the Extended Education Practitioners Training Programme. This programme – an 18-month certificate course – aims to equip practitioners with the skills required to design and execute quality after school programmes, thereby enabling them to create a better experience for learners. 

The programme will focus on the development of skills such as problem solving, decision-making, communication, project management and administration, dealing with complexity and working with difference. Speaking at the historic Stellenbosch University Museum, Brent Walters, Head of Department for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) and lead of the After School Game Changer, commended the 57 selected practitioners, encouraging them to grab the opportunity with both hands.

The Extended Education Practitioners Training Programme will provide a valuable opportunity to practitioners: not only will it up-skill a group of people who do incredible and challenging work, but it will also enable them to mould South Africa’s future generations into confident, productive and passionate citizens. According to Walters, “As the future beckons, we need to remain at the forefront of developing role-models for [our learners] to emulate.  [In this way] we will be doing our duty to build South Africa…one young person at a time.”

This training programme covers various aspects within the three key levers of the After School Game Changer project: building an enabling environment for extended day learning; increasing the provision of quality after school programmes; and broadening the after school sector through partnerships and collaboration.