Educators are crucial agents of change and their professional development should be seen as a process by which educators renew and extend their commitment as change agents to the moral purposes of teaching. In 2020, educators from Saldanha Bay enrolled in a programme that aimed to equip them with strong educational knowledge, digital, technical, and leadership skills to inspire their pupils to reach their full potential. The Professional Development Programme in the Applications of Dynamic Software for Secondary Mathematics Teachers was launched in January 2020 in partnership with the Saldanha Bay IDZ, academia, and the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED). From the University of Stellenbosch, Dr Erna Lampen and Mr Alwyn Olivier were running the programme, with Dr Lucienne Abrahams and Mr Songezo Mata who represented the LINK Centre at the University of Witwatersrand.

Despite the uncertainty and disruption of COVID-19 in 2020, finally on March 8, 2022, the day had come for the resilient and adaptable teachers to receive their certificates of achievement. It was an incredible moment for both the teachers and programme implementers. Dr Lucienne Abrahams praised the resilience and strength of the teachers and stated, “it is this determination and commitment that will ensure quality education for the learners in Saldanha Bay.”

An honorary and encouraging keynote address was given by the Superintendent-General of the Western Cape Department of Education, Mr Brent Williams. He commended the teachers for their perseverance and commitment to “doing the work.” Mr Williams confirmed that there will be continued support from the Western Cape Department of Education for additional Schools Development Programme initiatives with the Saldanha Bay IDZ and Saldanha Bay Innovation Campus.

The collaboration and partnership between the Saldanha Bay IDZ, Western Cape Education Department, the schools across Saldanha Bay, and the University of Witwatersrand and Stellenbosch gives significant hope and confidence in what can be achieved together in bringing quality education to Saldanha Bay.

The Schools’ Programme is endeavouring to accomplish the following initiatives for 2022 and beyond:

• Consolidating the relationship established with the Saldanha Bay and the greater education community of the West Coast,
• Engaging with educators within the body of the schools as agents of change by running a Leadership Development Programme,
• Young Leadership Programme for the grade 10 and 11 pupils from the public high schools in Saldanha Bay,
• The Walk in My Shoes programme will provide students with the opportunity to ignite their expression through the art of storytelling, and
• Expansion and continuation of The Build-Code-Fly drone programme for the Saldanha Bay Schools which focuses on upskilling participants on the advantages and application of Fourth Industrial Technologies in the classroom.

The Schools Programme seeks to work with educators and the young people in public high schools of Saldanha Bay in a sustained, coordinated and intentional way to prepare them for full participation in the various aspects of life in a thriving Saldanha Bay town and region, ready to take up opportunities within the SBIDZ and the region as a whole. We welcome support from our stakeholders in implementing our programmes and call on interested parties to contact the SBIDZ Innovation Campus at innovationcampus@sbidz.co.za for details on how you can become involved.