A programme that has been running
for only four years is taking innovation in education to new levels. Partners
for Possibility, a world first, award winning and uniquely South African
programme is endorsed by some of the country’s most influential educational thought leaders, already
touching 150 000 learners and more than 7800 teachers in South Africa.
The beauty of the programme is that
it dissolves the boundary between business and education and creates
opportunity for business leaders and educators to be in a deeply reciprocal
partnership where they continuously learn from each other. Currently 194 business leaders have partnered
with 194 principals in schools across South Africa. Partners come from a
diverse group of companies such as Microsoft, Vodacom, Multisol, Metropolitan,
JF Hillebrand, Nedbank and African Bank.
Bob Head, Acting Chief Financial
Officer at SARS and a partner in the PfP programme maintains that the PfP
programme is a mutually beneficial situation, “ while I have seen the far reaching
benefits for the principals and schools, I have never been so immersed in a
township community. I have taken people into the township who have never been
there before. And they are doing more. The more this happens, the more rainbow
the nation.”
He maintains “My influencing
skills have definitely improved — I only have influence, no power. Imagine a
business run only on influence. I am more open to other points of view. How
many businesses would have that?
The methodology for PfP is based
on decades of educational and community building research. It is centred on the
idea that mobilising community members to work together, to build better
schools, creates an upward spiral of change, leading to a better quality of
life and a healthier, happier and more productive country.
Traditionally, improved education
and improved academic outcomes can take time, but the programme is already starting
to see dramatically improved academic results in some of the schools that got
involved in PfP three years ago.
The programme includes an
impressive list of endorsers: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Professor Jonathan
Jansen, Wendy Luhabe and Clem Sunter.Trevor Manuel, former Minister in
the Presidency in charge of the National Planning Commission said “The National
Development Plan is all about different parts of society working with
government to increase capacity. The PfP programme is exactly what is needed to
make the NDP real and take our education forward. I commend the initiative for
what it does for education. But I also commend the initiative for how it
develops business people and gets them into communities those business people
would not necessarily get involved with. That has to help nation building as
well. Well done PfP.”
Professor Brian O’Connell , a PfP
patron maintains “It is clear that we all underestimate just how deeply our
history has hurt people and institutions, but if our country is to have any
chance of transcending that hurt and if our people are to take full ownership
of our future then our schools must lead the way. I believe that Partners for
Possibility has it right and that partnership with our leaders in this critical
venture, our principals, will create a new environment and release the kind of
positive, confident energy, supported by knowledge that will put us on a new
path. I support this project unconditionally and hope sincerely that the
project will be supported: for all of our sakes.”
Over the last four years of
working with principals and business leaders, the programme has identified the
key foundational factors for change in schools: Confident and energized
leaders, aligned and cohesive school management teams, energized and committed
teachers and engaged and supportive parents.
By placing schools at the centre
of the community Partners for Possibility believes that a radical
transformation can be achieved in the education sector. It is this path that will help it reach its
bold vision of providing quality education for all South African children by
2022.
ends
For more information on
Partners for Possibility
Louise van Rhyn
021 913 3507
louise@symphonia.net
Media Contact
Marilyn Watson
Cinnamon Communication
082 897 7752
marilyn@cinnamoncommunicaton.co.za
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