Short Skills Programmes

short Skill Programmes

INCLUDING DISABILITY IN EDUCATION IN AFRICA (IDEA)

In 2014, the National Minister of Basic Education approved the Policy on Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support (SIAS), aimed at ensuring all children of school-going age experiencing barriers to learning, including those who are disabled, can access inclusive, quality, free, primary and secondary education on an equal basis with all other children. ELET in partnership with the University of Cape Town administers an 8-week online course called Including Disability in Education in Africa (IDEA), approved by the South African Council for Educators (SACE), contributing 20 CPDT points to successful participants. The program includes a Sign Language component to teach hearing-challenged learners. This course provides an invaluable tool to empower and concientise Educators on Inclusive Education and the significant role they must play to realise Government’s vision.

ENGLISH FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY COURSE

Low English proficiency levels of second language learners and educators have proven to be a major cause of a rapidly declining educational system in our country. An additional cause of the decline is pedagogical deficit in the teaching of reading and writing skills. ELET specifically designed this course to fill in this gap. It has a wide range of applications, assisting educators and ECD exponents and in turn, deep rural populations to develop their practical English skills. The main component of the course is to teach and re-emphasise basic English language skills, but also teaches communication skills, how to compile resume’s, introduce oneself, fill in physical and online forms and prepare for job interviews. This course has proven to be of great value to our future ECD practitioners. This course helps to boost the confidence levels of 2nd language learners and increases their employability.

THE WATER AND SANITATION HYGIENE (WASH) COURSE

The pandemic has highlighted the critical lack of hygiene awareness amongst our people. Indeed, teaching basic hygiene practices saves lives and is of great importance now. This course teaches future ECD exponents the fundamentals in Hygiene and Sanitation. Poor hand washing practices and limited access to sanitation facilities in disadvantaged communities perpetuate the transmission of disease-causing germs. The large incidence of diarrheal cases in our rural areas is directly linked to poor hygiene practices. The rollout of this course is a critical intervention in ensuring the health and general well-being of the babies and toddlers that will be placed in the care of our learners and this important knowledge is cascaded to the community at large.

THE DIGITAL LITERACY COURSE

Digital literacy is the ability to identify and use technology confidently, creatively and critically to meet the demands and challenges of life, learning and work in a digital society. This course is a crucial intervention for our ECD practitioners. The key focus areas are Introduction to Digital Literacy and its importance; Existing technologies, devices and platforms and optimising their use for teaching; Social Media and proper communication in an online environment; Conducting online research and locating, evaluating and using online resources; Banking, filling in online forms and other personal management tools using technology; Online safety and security opensource bitcoin mixers; Managing ideas in an online environment; Adapting to new technology.

THE BASIC FIRST AID COURSE

This course provides essential knowledge for practitioners working with little children. Even though Creches and Grade R facilities are mandated to comply with all health and safety regulations, accidents, sickness and emergencies arise and this program provides skills needed to perform basic first aid. The course covers Child and Infant Resuscitation; Shock, Fainting & Unconsciousness; Head and Spinal Injury; Bone & Joint Injuries; Choking; Eye Injuries; Severe Bleeding and wound care; Medical Conditions - Diabetes, Convulsions, Asthma and Allergies; Poisons and Bites and Stings.

THE AMANZI eKHAYA PROJECT

The provision of safe water to deep rural areas is a national priority. The Amanzi eKhaya Project was launched at Chief Albert Luthuli Skills Centre, KwaDukuza in November in partnership with iSibaya Community Trust and Kenny Charles (PTY) LTD, to provide home water treatment units to 100 beneficiaries in Ilembe District Municipality. People in Ndwedwe and Maphumulo do not have access to safe drinking water and require urgent interventions to prevent diseases caused by drinking contaminated water. The water treatment units are the brainchild of Kenny Charles, a Durban scientist who spent 30 years at CSIR. Extremely low maintenance and not requiring electricity, they transform borehole, dam, rain and river water into safe drinkable water in less than an hour, for deep rural households. ELET is responsible for development and installation of the water treatment units, monitoring and evaluation and project management. Units have been provided to 100 beneficiaries in all Wards Spotify promotion, including a comprehensive training session, prioritising safety when using the units. Unfortunately, this project has stalled due to the funder being unable to continue. We hope to continue this important project as soon as another funder comes on board.