President's Education Initiative

The research component of the initiative was funded by the Danish International Agency (DANIDA). JET, as the Joint Education Trust, was contacted by the National Department of Education and DANIDA to manage the PEI Research Project.

JET, as the Joint Education Trust, was contacted by the National Department of Education and DANIDA to manage the PEI Research Project

JET, as the Joint Education Trust, was contacted by the National Department of Education and DANIDA to manage the PEI Research Project

About

The President’s Education initiative (PEI) was launched in 1997 with President Mandela’s personal appeal to several foreign heads of government for assistance in developing teacher skills in South Africa. The research component of the initiative was funded by the Danish International Agency (DANIDA).

JET, as the Joint Education Trust, was contacted by the National Department of Education and DANIDA to manage the PEI Research Project. Research studies were commissioned the areas of:

• establishing best practices in the teaching of maths, science and English with particular reference to Curriculum 2005
• identifying difficulties in the teaching of large classes, multi-grade classes or multilingual classes and investigating ways of overcoming these
• Investigating appropriate ways of implementing whole school development (institutional development)
• Investigating the availability and use of learning materials in primary school classrooms

identifying difficulties in the teaching of large classes, multi-grade classes or multilingual classes and investigating ways of overcoming these

investigating appropriate ways of implementing whole school development (institutional development)

investigating the availability and use of learning materials in primary school classrooms

The research and analysis of its implications for education development policy and practice were summarised in a book: Getting Learning Right

Getting Learning Right had an immediate impact and ever since has been instrumental in structuring the debate on how to improve the quality of schooling.

Some of the original research reports can be found in the Resources to download section.

Getting learning right:

Preface

This research was commissioned by the Teacher Development Centre on behalf of the Department of Education, under the auspices of the President's Education Initiative. The purpose was to provide a scientific basis for the future planning and delivery of educator development and support programmes.

The research has been narrowly focused on the school and classroom context, and has interrogated issues of teacher practice, curriculum, and the use of teaching and learning materials, as well as the inter-relatedness of these matters in whole school development processes. There is not a strong tradition in South Africa of empirical research into educational matters, and the research project has directed resources and attention to this aspect. The project has also succeeded in empowering a number of previously disadvantaged researchers and institutions, by recognising and supporting the work they have done in schools and classrooms.

The research findings are informative, and will help to construct an agenda for the future. Coupled with other related initiatives of the Teacher Development Centre, specifically the investigation into the content and delivery mechanisms of current educator development and support programmes, the research report provides a body of knowledge which will serve as a useful basis for the development of policy on teachers.

Hard copies are available from JET Education Services.

Taylor, N. and Vinjevold. P. (eds). 1999. Getting learning right: Report the President's Education Initiative Research Project.

Some of the original research reports can be found in the Resources to download section.

This research was commissioned by the Teacher Development Centre on behalf of the Department of Education, under the auspices of the President's Education Initiative. The purpose was to provide a scientific basis for the future planning and delivery of educator development and support programmes.

The research has been narrowly focused on the school and classroom context, and has interrogated issues of teacher practice, curriculum, and the use of teaching and learning materials, as well as the inter-relatedness of these matters in whole school development processes. There is not a strong tradition in South Africa of empirical research into educational matters, and the research project has directed resources and attention to this aspect. The project has also succeeded in empowering a number of previously disadvantaged researchers and institutions, by recognising and supporting the work they have done in schools and classrooms.

The research findings are informative, and will help to construct an agenda for the future. Coupled with other related initiatives of the Teacher Development Centre, specifically the investigation into the content and delivery mechanisms of current educator development and support programmes, the research report provides a body of knowledge which will serve as a useful basis for the development of policy on teachers.

Hard copies are available from JET Education Services.

Taylor, N. and Vinjevold. P. (eds). 1999. Getting learning right: Report the President's Education Initiative Research Project.

Some of the original research reports can be found in the Resources to download section.

Resources