Page 16 - Education Feature Issue 1 2021

Kyalami Schools Group (NPC) is re-imagining
education! Led by the Group Head of Academics and
Innovation - Mark Naidoo, along with his dedicated
team of deputies, Tammy Odendaal, Kim Deirino
and Denise McKee (Kyalami Preparatory), Tracy
Kyalami Schools
(NPC) Newman, Debbie Kromm and Debbie Waldron
(Beaulieu Preparatory) and Jorge Ruiz-Mesa
(Beaulieu College), they have worked to modify the
academic offering to our community of schools.

Mark Naidoo Here is a snapshot of the considerations and
actions that our amazing academic staff have been
unpacking as they adapt to campus and online
teaching.

THE EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING!

Are brick and mortar schools a thing of the past? Will online the experience is pronounced in independent schools. We are
learning become the new norm? Teaching and learning is witnessing an accelerated development of more resilient pupils.
fundamentally a social activity – can this be replicated with an Better time management, active self-discipline, an increase in
online learning approach? Recent media articles and interviews independent thinking and the use of multiple technologies have
voice their opinions on the above questions, a number of which become a norm in the current approach to learning. Teachers
are given by technology experts and the corporate sector; I are finding new ways to engage their pupils and at times, pupils
wonder if teachers will have their say. experience a greater level of personal attention through one-to-
one interactions. Teacher creativity, peer collaboration and peer
Our schools have been fortunate enough to transition through review of learning material, critical thinking and the ability to
2020 given our access to existing technology infrastructure, communicate succinctly via online mediums have strengthened
the agility of staff and availability of pupil devices. The rapid our 21st century skills.
response by our management teams has also helped us in
preparing for the inevitable changes that will take place, post WHY CONSIDER ONE OF THE KYALAMI SCHOOLS?
Covid-19. Teachers across our campuses accepted the challenge, albeit
at short notice, to present their subject content remotely, in a
NEW CHALLENGES professional manner. They have also become more innovative in
their delivery and continue to find ways to sharpen their online
Schools thrive when pupils, parents and staff actively contribute skills. As a community of schools, our ability to work closely
to the learning experience that does not simply focus on as a team and leverage our collective expertise has aided staff
academic prowess. Kyalami Schools Group has a holistic to feel secure during these challenging times. Online teaching
approach to education; the emotional, social and physical well- and learning demand a range of teaching modalities; our staff
being of our pupils and staff are of paramount importance. While continue to explore these modalities and determine to remain
we have modified our programmes to offer holistic development, adaptable. We also maintain the view that technology remains
it has become a challenge given the Covid-19 situation. Social an enabler – great teachers know how to leverage technology to
interaction and play, especially for younger children in the reach a predetermined objective.
pre-primary phase, is a necessary part of their development.
As a Group, it has always been our values of Integrity,
Teachers also depend on social cues to guide their pedagogy. Consistency, Accountability, Respect and Excellence which
Subsequently, questioning techniques, facilitating a meaningful have driven our commitment to our pupils and parents. Our
discussion and debating opinions become complicated in an values determine who we really are. Access to the Kyalami
online learning environment. However, adapting to these Schools staff and management is seamless, which is important
environments and learning to navigate an online meeting has for constructive engagement. The staff go the extra mile (I know
propelled the pupils forward, teaching them an important skill this sounds cliché) so that each child is nurtured and feels part
they will need in the fourth industrial revolution. of the greater community. There is an innate generosity which
our teachers express to pupils in their care and our service to
Parents who have to manage the availability of devices and parents and pupils remains our core focus.
ensure uninterrupted connectivity, while their employers have
expectations of them, adds a tangible level of stress to many IS THERE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?
households. Therefore, we have adopted an asynchronous
approach to allow for flexibility, especially where more than When all is said and done, our values as a community will
one child needs to access a device per household. We remain determine how we respond to a completely new approach
committed as a Group to finding ways to improve the situation, to learning. We control our response, irrespective of the
within our means. circumstances imposed on us. How we respond now will
certainly have lasting effects on how we reform education in
THE BENEFITS South Africa. The education system has been reset, not by
choice. I see this as an opportunity to re-imagine education – if
In some ways the changes in teaching and learning have yielded we are completely honest, it’s about time!
positive outcomes for education, with the understanding that

#REIMAGINING EDUCATION

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