Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”

– President Nelson Mandela

Education is in crises

The Primary:Tertiary Education Disconnect

• The South African Government boasted a 73.9% matric (Grade 12/NSC

Certificate) pass rate nationally in all its public schools in 2012;

• Only 54% of the students who wrote matric passed Maths (with a mere

30% pass rate)

• Of all the children enrolled in Grade 10 in 2010 (2 years prior to matric)
• nly 37.5% passed matric. There was a 51% dropout ratio of students

between Grades 10 and matric and schools culled their poor performers.

• Of all the children who joined Grade 1 in 2001, only 32.9% passed

matric in 2012. This is the true matric pass rate pointing to a dysfunctional, under resourced public schooling system where the majority of the pupils who start Grade 1 do not pass matric.

• Of these children who joined Grade 1 in 2001, only 13.5% graduated

matric in 2012 with grades strong enough to enroll in a Bachelors program at varsity level.

• In 2018 the official matric pass rate announced by the South African

Government was 78.2%.

• However of the 1 067 075 grade 10s enrolled in 2016, only 512 735

wrote matric in 2018 – 48.1% of students.

• This means only 37.6% of these Grade 10s passed matric in 2018.
• Only 51.5% of 2018 matric students passed their Mathematics Exams.

Source: PoliticsWeb: The “real” matric pass rate? by James Myburgh-June 2013 Source: The South African: Matric 2018: South Africa’s ‘real’ pass rate revealed – and it’s a shocker by TheSouthAfrican Staff & Agencies

Matric Class of 2012

The Real Issue

M u c h o f S o u t h A f r i c a ’s e d u c a t i o n a l challenges, marked in part by poor literacy and numeracy aptitude, as well as high attrition rates can be attributed to l i m i t e d - q u a l i t y f o u n d a t i o n - p h a s e education1. This results in disadvantaged children that get left behind and who require intensified learning at 2-4X the rate to catch up, if at all, by Grade 42.

1 Education White Paper 5 on Early Childhood Education, Meeting the Challenge of Early

Childhood Development in Africa, 2001 2 Waterford Study

The Multiplier Effect of Digital Learning

“…Early childhood education has been shown to play an important role in addressing skill gaps for disadvantaged children. Integrating technology into early childhood education means that children may have access to a wider range of opportunities for learning. They will have the opportunity to build basic technology literacy and learn to use technology effectively for educational purpose, according to the report…”

Early Education Plays Role in Bridging the 'Digital Divide‘, Rand Corporation, 2014

The mere supply of computers is not sufficient to close the digital divide. The Gauteng on-line project which resulted in digital labs being installed in many of the public schools in Gauteng in 2012 has failed due to the lack of educational software and content. The hardware in most cases is now obsolete with no technology refresh in the pipeline

Computers ≠ Digital Education

Gauteng on-line classroom at Shirinda Primary School March 2017 (before BrightLights) BrightLights Learning Lab April 2017

.

Government Can’t Go it Alone

While South Africa’s annual GDP allocation towards education remains one of the highest in the African continent, the country has finished in the bottom 10 countries for five consecutive years in the World Economic Forum’s mathematics and science education quality rankings. The 2018 scorecard ranks the country’s education quality lower than that of Nigeria, Ethiopia and Malawi.

BrightLights Intervention

BrightLights Mission

BrightLights aims to level the playing field in under-resourced areas by providing best-in-class digital tools allowing children to fully participate in the modern environment with knowledge and confidence. Digital Learning disrupts the poverty cycle. It is fast and adaptive, overcoming common hurdles such as low child: teacher ratios, under-skilled teachers, and different learning abilities. Most importantly, it does not discriminate against the economically disadvantaged.

BrightLights Levels the Playing Field

“…It is the tension between access and quality that emerges as a key issue in considering current early learning and its expansion in future …”

1

1 Building strong foundations: Improving the quality of early education, Ursula Hoadley, School of

Education, University of Cape Town. South African Child Gauge 2013

BrightLights Learning Labs

• Virtual teacher for each student
• Works at the pace of each student
• Customized to address weakness and boost

the strengths of each student

• Early English literacy and Maths foundation
• Content refreshed annually, taking

advantage of latest research and teaching best practices

• Single investment serves multiple grades
• Trained resources provided to guide and

channel learning

Powered-On Labs

Consoles for each learner Headphones for personalized lessons Wi-fi and Router for Internet connectivity Fully licensed educational software used by private schools in SA and internationally Content aligned to Gauteng Grade R-7 learners (CAPS Curriculum) Ergonomical desks and chairs for young learners Brightly designed interactive classrooms Two - Four trained facilitators depending on size of student body

BrightLights Learning Lab at Shirinda Primary

Pilot Project: April 2017

BrightLights Learning Lab

• Pilot Project at the Shirinda Primary School in Mamelodi;
• Revamped the Gauteng Online lab and provided Wi-Fi and Internet connectivity;
• Refurbished useable devices and purchased 15 new Chromebooks to provide a total of 35 seats; we now have a total of 47 seats with

additional donor chromebooks;

• Fully licensed Literacy (ReadingEggs and ReadingEggspress) and Maths (Mathseeds and Matheletics) learning software made available;

World class software used by private schools in South Africa as well as schools globally in countries such as the United States, Australia, UK;

• Currently the lab accommodates 336 learners;
• Content aligned with the South African primary school curriculum,
• Currently available to Grades R through to Grade 6. In 2020, Grade 7 will be added.
• English language medium of instruction;
• Self paced learning in a fun, interactive digital environment;
• Learning facilitated by trained resources funded by BrightLights and under joint supervision of BrightLights and Shirinda school;
• Suffjcient time provided daily for facilitators to review progress and report to the Class Educators; Facilitators able to review performance

metrics and adjust learning;

• Facilitators have access to multiple dashboards providing real time reports with individual, grade, topic, subject, and summary statistics.

Results Matter – Reading Eggs

Reading Eggs Progress Reading Eggs consists of 120 lessons and supplementary activities. This data reflects progress at the end of May 2019 for Grades R-3 at Shirinda Primary School and the majority of students are tracking accordingly with some Gr3’s beyond the 80 lesson mark! As the learners progress through the years the grades will benchmark to the expectations of 40 lessons per grade resulting in Grade 3s moving on to Reading Eggspress once they have achieved a minimum of 80 lessons. Report date: May 2019 (Shirinda)

Results Matter – Reading Eggspress

Reading Eggspress Progress Reading Eggspress is designed to build children’s skills in reading, comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, and grammar from grades 4 – 7. This data reflects progress at the end of May 2019 for Grades 4-6 at Shirinda Primary School and allows us to see each grades progression through the English Skills and My Lessons curriculum. The Reading Eggspress program has an enormous range of learning resources, reading lessons, and exciting literacy games and the library consists of over 2500 online books for kids Report date: May 2019 (Shirinda)

Results Matter – Mathseeds

Mathseeds Progress

Internationally, Mathseeds are for learners from Grade R to 2. Whilst we introduced it to Grades 3 and 4 at Shirinda Primary we subsequently moved them to Mathletics. Grades 1 and 2 utilize the Mathseeds software while Grades 3 and upwards utilize Mathletics. The challenge is that English is not the home language of these children and therefore in the earlier years they may struggle to understand the instructions.

Report date: May 2019 (Shirinda)

Results Matter – Mathletics

Mathletics Progress

Mathletics courses are aligned to the requirements of the primary maths curriculum and designed for all learning styles. Questions include animated tutorials, audio support and adapt to the learning pace of each child. Mathletics empowers learners to feel confident and motivated to think critically, make learning choices, seek help when they need it and reflect on their learning by being able to visually track their progress. This data reflects the achievements at the end of Term 2 2019 for Grades 3-6 at Shirinda Primary

• School. The majority of learners are achieving

between 50-84% and above for activities attempted.

Report date: June 2019 (Shirinda)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 3 4 5 6

Achievement Percentage by Year

>=85% 50-84% <50%

BrightLights Learning Lab at Itemoheng Primary

Launched: May 2019

BrightLights Learning Lab

• The Brightlights Labs at Itemoheng Primary School in Orange Farm is sponsored by The Envisionit Trust, ;
• Revamped space and provided Wi-Fi and Internet connectivity;
• Purchased 80 new Chromebooks to provide a total of 80 seats across 2 labs of 35 and 45 learners;
• Fully licensed Literacy (ReadingEggs and ReadingEggspress) and Maths (Mathseeds and Matheletics) learning software made available;

World class software used by private schools in South Africa as well as schools globally in countries such as the United States, Australia, UK;

• Currently the lab accommodates 886 learners from Grades R - 4;
• Content aligned with the South African CAPS primary school curriculum,
• English language medium of instruction;
• Self paced learning in a fun, interactive digital environment;
• Learning facilitated by trained resources funded by Envisionit and under joint supervision of BrightLights and Itemoheng school;
• Suffjcient time provided daily for facilitators to review progress and report to the Class Educators; Facilitators able to review performance

metrics and adjust learning;

• Facilitators have access to multiple dashboards providing real time reports with individual, grade, topic, subject, and summary statistics.

Make it Brighter

How Corporations can power-on many more BrightLights Learning Labs

Equip Share

Play Your Part

Invest Choose to make us part

• f your CSR/CSI.

R150,000 per annum ensures that BrightLights Learning is able to offer its digital education experience to a minimum of 250 young learners. Choose to equip our labs. BrightLights uses Chrome books or equivalent; headphones; mouse and mousepads; Equipping a lab with 40 stations to accommodate 250 learners costs R200,000 once-off Choose to spread the word about BrightLights by sharing our 1 minute video with colleagues, friends and family.

Target Schools for BrightLights

Bohlabatsatsi Primary School (306 students) Zamintuthuko Primary School (540 students) Mveledzo Primary School (561 students) N’Wa-Vangani Primary School (528 students)

CSI and BB-BEE More Than a Tick-Box Exercise

At BrightLights, we are interested in partnering with like-minded organisations, companies and individuals who understand that turning the tide on inequality and growing the country’s next generation will require the participation of active citizens who are willing to put their hands to the plough. As the country’s BB-BEE Codes of Good Practice continue to evolve, and the increasing pressure placed on corporate social investment spend to demonstrate real measurable impact, BrightLights is able to offer companies the opportunity to strategically direct their spend. And that, on an investment that keeps returning benefit, for school learners, communities, and society as a whole.

Invest Confidently

Ongoing facilitator training and monitoring Financial transparency Tax Registered NPO 203-305 NPO PBO Number 930063566 Verified and Audited books In the community For the community From the community Administrative oversight by multiple bodies Approval and involvement

• f School Governing

Board and Gauteng Department of Education Monthly reporting and calibration of progress

Our Partners

www.brightlightslearning.org info@brightlightslearning.org +27 (0)72 518 9809