Over 230 Grade 12 learners from three high schools took part in a Life Science revision session presented by various departments in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences from CPUT.
The Life Science revision programme was initiated by the Department of Emergency Medical Sciences’ Prof Kareemah Najaar. The programme has been running for the past few years with the mission of providing socio-economic disadvantaged learners with an opportunity to qualify and apply for science programmes at the tertiary level.
Wynberg High School hosted matriculants from Langa High School and Lavender Hill High School at the first revision session for 2024. Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) students tutored the matriculants on topics chosen by teachers from the three high schools. The revision worksheets used were based on the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS).
According to Najaar, Covid-19 regulations continued to present the tutors with the challenge of providing in-person revision sessions. “This was easily overcome with the incorporation of the horseshoe shape design (a concept created in 2024), in which desks are spaced adequately apart and students are then able to engage with the tutors who are positioned in the centre of the horseshoe, thus creating safe social distancing,” said Najaar.
Keeping in mind that Mathematics, Engineering, Science and Technology is the focus area for economic growth of the country “and in the true spirit” of Community of Practice, the collaborating departments, Emergency Medical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Somatology, Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, Ophthalmic Sciences, and Dental Technology, with the Centre for Community Engagement and Work Integrated Learning’s Service-Learning (SL) division, once again successfully created an environment in which the matriculants were able to physically attend the revision programme while conforming to Covid-19 regulations.
Dr Wendy Solomon and Najaar worked closely with school principals, department heads, respective Faculty staff, teachers, Service-Learning division, CPUT printing division and donors in this programme.
Najaar believes that the success of this programme lies within the principal and implementation of Community of Practice (CoP). Which is based on “a group of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis”.
“The unselfish and tireless efforts from all stakeholders, particularly the grade 12 learners and the tutors, is the reason that this community project has been such a success since 2018. The continued efforts by the Health and Wellness Sciences lecturers and school teachers to adapt and improve the system for the amplification of the students’ learning is a testament to their sincerity and dedication to serving the community,” said Najaar.
