A Professional Association of Eastern Cape English Teachers launched

One hundred and fifty teachers, district managers, subject advisors and librarians met to launch a new Professional Association of English Teachers at Rhodes University. The Association launch conference that ran for three days (9-11 April) will enhance the professional standing of English teachers, offer ongoing access to cutting edge educational research, and provide a forum in which discipline-specific challenges can be confronted and solutions shared.

The Association was launched with a nucleus of teachers who have been through the Institute’s Advanced Certificate of Education and B Ed programmes over the past eight years. It was widely felt among these educators that the bonds of friendship, collegiality and professional cooperation forged during their in-service contact sessions needed to be preserved and developed. 

The newly formed Eastern Cape English Educators Association, which is open to all teachers in the Province, will also work to spear-head the broad resuscitation and renovation of quality language teaching in the province.

A key feature of these programmes is the emphasis on substantial in-school support (and in a province the size of the Eastern Cape this presents a considerable challenge) and the promotion of clusters within school Districts to enhance opportunities for networking.

The Association has grown from the in-service education programmes offered by the Institute for the Study of English in Africa (ISEA) at Rhodes University, in partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Education and the ZENEX Foundation.
A working party was also established to see to the formation of the province-wide professional association, open to English teachers at all levels.

On the last day of the conference, the Association’s Constitution was adopted and an inaugural Provincial Council was elected. The Association plans a biennial conference, a regular newsletter, and occasional workshops.

Photo supplied: The newly elected Provincial Council (l-r): Dr Monica Hendricks (Secretary); Mr Denis Setsubi (Treasurer); Ms Nocwaka Phindela (Vice-President); Ms Noluthando Ndamase (Member); Ms Ntomboxolo Cawe (Member) and Mr Siyabulela Bam (President). Missing: Mr Kutloano Matsau (Member).