Page 12 - link magazine

12 The Link Magazine • August 2005
Schools' partnership strengthens global understanding
In October 2004, four teachers from Greendown School spent a week visiting, learning and working in Moriting Wa Thuto Senior Secondary
School in the rural mountain town of Clarens in South Africa.
By February 2005, a further four The June Link featured the visit rica during July, a lot of it reinforc- from her visits to South Africa,
teachers had made the same visit. by staff and children from ing stereotypes, Greendown stu- Year 9 pupil Hannah Tielemans -
In June the compliment was re- Dihlabeng primary school in dents have made important dis- one of a number of pupils in the
turned when two teachers and two Clarens which has been linked with coveries from meeting the teach- Greendown Global Action Group
pupils from Moriting came to Peatmoor School for four years. ers and pupils from Moriting." —said she had caught Ms Bennett's
Swindon to develop the partner- Greendown's Global Partner- Amongst other things about life enthusiasm. "Moriting school
ship with Greendown. ship Co-ordinator, English teacher in a small South African town, they sounds really interesting and hard
During the week the teachers Cristina Bennett, said the contact learnt that there can be over 50 working. Many of us who joined
exchanged information about work at secondary level goes beyond pupils in a class at Moriteng; there the group thought everybody was
practices, school management and education into the community. is rarely classroom chatter whilst poor and in trouble, but this is not
discussed education with children, "Two years ago I could never have teaching is taking place; there is a what we have found out. Tshweu
whilst the young South Africans imagined how far we have got in burning desire to learn because and Mamothe have fitted into our
Tshweu Motloung, 18, and building understanding between education is regarded as the way classes without a problem, they
Mamothe Sebeko, 17, spent time in our cultures. to a better life; training to become are just like us."
class and socialising with pupils. "With so much attention on Af- a doctor, nurse or engineer is the Teacher Mirriam Mbambo was
goal, rather than fantasies of be- impressed by primary school liai-
coming footballers or pop stars; son and the IT training available in
there is one computer in the whole Britain. "All the work that goes on
school, compared with several in to make the transfer from primary
The Complete Human Resources r^ each classroom at Greendown; school to secondary school is very
pride in their school and the future good."
Consultancy Solution of their country is really important She added that she liked the in-
Unique
with over 20 years experience at executive level 5 .utiv to young people in South Africa. volvement of parents with schools
Unique Executive Services is highly qualified and specialises in
all aspects of employment law. We are readily available to meet
any business requirements you might have.
Wherever and whenever required, we are UNIQUE.
• The Right Product in the Right Place at the Right Time — and
Uniquely at the right price.
Call 07850 515222 or 01793 870796
for information or to make an appointment

Back, left to right, Jaznad Ati-Shah, visiting student Tshn'eu Motloung, Greg
Satchel!, Greendown teacher Code/ Messiah, Greendown teacher Cristina Bennett,
Greendown chair of governors Andrew Basson, Greendown headteacher Steve
O'Sullivan, Gemmn Bird. Front, left to right: C{rristina Paton, Rhian ion Ray,
Hannah Tielemans, Rabiah Saleh, visiting student Mamothe Sebeko, visiting
teacher Mirria,n Mbambo, visiting headteacher Daniel Sejake, Lauren Fisher
• Tshweu, who is president of here. But the traditional school fete
Moriting's Representative Learn- at Tregoze Primary school made a
er's Council (school council) said special impact on her. She said,
he had been honoured to be cho- "Fundraising at fetes is something
YOUR LOCAL PVC-U MANUFACTURER sen to visit Swindon. "I was very white schools do in South Africa;
excited before coming here. I've it's unknown in the township
• Buy direct from enjoyed meeting other students schools. But it's something we must
our factor and seeing the work at Greendown. try, to involve parents and give
. The standard of education is a lit- young people another way of sup-
• We make it and IN . $ tle bit higher but I understand eve- porting their school."
we fit it II i rvthing that is going on in class. Greendown headteacher Steve
• High security But I was surprised by the talking O'Sullivan said the visit had been
while the teacher is instructing."
a great learning experience. "Our
• 10 year guarantee Greendown Year 10 pupil Jawad relationship is a two-way exchange
Ali-Shah said meeting Tshweu, of ideas; by working together we
• Lowest prices Mamothe and the Moriting teach- are hoping to break down some of
ers had opened his eyes. "A the preconceived images we have
Why not let number of students here doss of each other. We can learn so much
around, and I've done that as well. by sharing our knowledge and
us handle I was surprised when Tshweu said understanding. Ultimately it's
parents have to pay for education about young people working to-
everything and have to provide equipment. gether across the globe to make a
He told me he wakes up at 5am better world."
f7''om start to each morning to help his mother Moriting headteacher, Daniel
with cleaning and cooking before Sejake agreed, "this has been a very
finish? going to school. successful visit. We take back lots
"I see pictures about Africa on of ideas about education and
Call today 01793 790944 TV and read aboutit, and I've done school management and I think
the fund raising like Red Nose Day, we have helped open eyes about
or 07973 232435 (evenings and weekends) but meeting Tshweu has given me Africa at Greendown. We must
a lot to think about." strengthen our partnership for the
The Marsh, Lower Wanborough. SN4 OAS
Following Ms Bennett's return benefit of all young people."