Vision, Mission & Aims
Collegial Cluster Project
Over 56% of South Africa’s maths teachers are not properly qualified. Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project (RUMEP), an NGO based at Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape, aims to improve the quality of mathematics teaching and learning in previously disadvantaged areas by establishing Collegial Clusters that give teachers the opportunity to share their strategies and experiences teaching mathematics.
RUMEP offers an Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE), an accredited programme in Mathematics and a B.Ed, to individual teachers. RUMEP also develops resources and teaching materials for teaching maths at school. The Collegial Clusters project hinges on both of these aspects of RUMEP’s work. Collegial Clusters consist of a group of committed teachers who are geographically close to one another who meet regularly to support one another and help each other to develop better teaching skills and methods for maths. An ACE graduate facilitates these meetings. Collegial Clusters also have workshops, classroom support days, and promote open days and mathematics challenges to showcase teachers and learners skills.
Innovation
This project is innovative because it reaches beyond the professional development of the individual teacher through the cluster system.
Effectiveness
There are currently 14 clusters across the Eastern Cape. 357 teachers from 130 schools actively participate in the clusters. Classroom support visits are used to follow up on the progress made during workshops.
Poverty Impact
The Collegial Clusters programme targets educators in previously disadvantaged communities, townships, and deep rural areas. This project improves the quality of life for students in poor areas by building the capacity of teachers to provide higher quality maths education. The Collegial Clusters impacts on approximately 23 567 students in ways that government fails to do.
Sustainability
The Clusters themselves become self-sustaining, develop their own constitutions, and elect executive members. Each cluster also plans and approves its own activities, including fundraising. The project is supported by ABSA and DG Murray.
Replication
This project could be replicated easily elsewhere in the country on condition that it finds funding, trained and motivated teachers to facilitate clusters and enthusiastic participants.
Partnerships
- ABSA (funding)
- DG Murray (funding)
- Department of Education (curriculum and tools)
