Since the Covid-19 lockdown brought teaching at the Maths and Science Leadership Academy (MSLA) in Kimberley to a temporary halt, the centre has opened many new learning and career opportunities for its learners in the digital world.
Anne Maclean, managing director, says this non-profit organisation is now the only public Certiport Authorised Testing Centre in the Northern Cape that offers certifications in Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS); Microsoft Certified Educator and IC3 Digital Literacy.
MSLA has produced the first-ever learner from a public school to achieve a certification.
Ismaeel Cader (15), a Gr. 9 learner of the William Pescod High School, has achieved MOS certifications in Word 2019, PowerPoint 2019 and Excel 2019. He has automatically received the Microsoft Office Specialist: Associated certification and is most likely the youngest person in South Africa to have achieved this. He is preparing to write Word 2019 Expert soon, a qualification that few adults possess.
Some 13 Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 learners have achieved MOS certifications in Word 2019, and one Word 2019 Expert. Another has achieved an MOS certification in PowerPoint 2019 with more preparing to do certifications in Word 2019, PowerPoint 2019 and Excel 2019.
“MSLA was set up in October 2006 as a response to the challenges facing education in this area, especially Mathematics and Science.
“We offer classes in Mathematics, Science, Digital Literacy, Coding, Global Citizenship and Career Guidance. The learners are nominated by the schools based on their potential and sense of commitment and determination.
“Through sponsors’ funding the academy provides learners with excellent teachers, stationery, study guides, refreshments, and transport for those who need it. Financial support is given to Gr. 12 learners regarding university application fees,” Maclean says.
“Our focus is to help children holistically. Before the pandemic, we impacted on 1 500 Gr. 4 to Gr. 12 learners from 60 schools each year, including the programmes we ran in Pofadder and Boshof. All programmes are now run in Kimberley. We currently support 300 Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 learners from 18 high schools in Kimberley.”
When the lockdown was enforced, sponsors gave permission to redirect the unused funds.
The premises was renovated and restructured as a digital access centre. Digital literacy is a core fundamental competency for future career success.”
Luis Guerra Grandal, an IT engineer from Cuba, has played a major role in leading the digital transformation at MSLA.
MSLA is registered as a Microsoft Education Institution. Guerra Grandal, who is also teaching at MSLA, says the certification courses are on par with the best schools and universities in South Africa.
“The majority of learners are from poor communities. There are wonderful success stories. MSLA’s broader focus is on supporting teachers and schools in using technology to transform education in making it relevant for our current world,” Maclean says.
They are negotiating with the Department of Education to upgrade Computer Application Technology (CAT) to a higher level in schools to include MOS certifications. Guerra Grandal says the department is “on board” with the MSLA proposal, but officials and teachers need to be trained first before they can train learners for these certifications.
