RE: PUNAHOU-PORT SHEPSTONE MATH PROJECT 2001
The Port Shepstone Region of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education and Culture has been singularly blessed by a math project that was sponsored by Punahou School and the brainchild of one of the members of its staff, Yunus Peer, a local man now living in Honolulu.
It was in my capacity as mayor of Port Shepstone (1995 -1998), school principal and co-chairman of the Lower South Coast Education Initiative that I first met Yunus Peer. He became involved in education projects that have benefited our community and it has been my privilege to liaise with him on them, the Punahou-Port Shepstone Math Project being the most recent.
This outreach to our math educators who benefited from the teaching skills of teachers from Punahou School and Honoka'a High School was very much appreciated by the Hibiscus Coast Local Council who hosted a civic reception for our Hawaiian visitors and local educators. The presence of the Regional Education Director, Dr SG Nyawuza, who officially opened the workshop on the Tuesday and gave the keynote address at the civic reception was acknowledgement of the value of the project to our community.
The 4 teachers from Honolulu assisted 36 math educators, predominantly from rural schools, with the preparation, delivery, dissemination and assessment in specific areas of the South African curriculum in high school mathematics, in liaison with the local maths advisers. A 3-hour workshop was also conducted for Grade 11 and 12 leamers from local high schools.
It is difficult to express the gratitude felt and the goodwill generated by this project. I suspect that history will show that it was of great significance to all beneficiaries. It is also hoped that this is the first of many and plans for including science next year are already on the table!
South Africa is a nation emerging from a tragic past of apartheid where the education of the vast majority of our peopie was severely crippled by the policies of the day. While it is an impossible task to eradicate the damage done, we as a community have created a network involving the local council, the education department, the local chamber of commerce, service organisations and civil society at every level and have worked extremely hard to address the situation.
And so I have written to you on behalf of our community to express our gratitude to Dr Jim Scott, Ms Diane Anderson, Yunus Peer, Jim Clarke, Mike Pavich, Mike Vogel and everyone at Punahou School, and Steve Hanks and Honoka'a High School for reaching out to us. I know that in giving, the visiting educators received much in return. I also know that their investment in the future of our land will be rewarded.
May God bless you and your community
