Page 16 - Education Supplement_Issue 2_ 2022

Centennial Schools

“Ushering in South Africa’s Next-Generation Education”

Evan Saunders - fortressofsolitude.co.za

t’s no secret that South Africa’s education system is a topic of The recent pandemic prompted rapid change in many areas,
contention, and the need to drive change in order to prepare the including the workplace – with adults embracing remote work and
Inext-generation workforce requires a major shift in thinking and flexible hours – as well as education delivery – with students being
innovative solutions. empowered to take charge of their own education and online learning
becoming the ‘norm’. This experience highlighted the need for, and
Fortunately, there are already institutions attempting to address the benefits of, modern technology in the education system. It also
challenges of – among others – the lowered matric pass rates, new encouraged free, lateral thinking while teaching fundamental skills to
technology, and an education system that dates back over 150 years, drive the youth into an ever-changing future.
which is streamlined for a different era. One of these is Centennial
Schools in Sunninghill. These ‘enforced’ adjustments to education delivery also highlighted
that the time is ripe, and our youth are more than ready to break
Founded in 2021, Centennial Schools has, however, taken the away from the norms of the current education system.
challenge one step further, by designing a holistic education
environment that resonates with the nature of today’s youth. They
have tackled head-on the current education methods as well as CENTENNIAL SCHOOLS –
inadequate preparation for adult life that the existing system provides. REIMAGINING TODAY’S SCHOOLS

Says CEO and founder, Shaun Fuchs, who has been involved in While the National CAPS curriculum is at the core and the IEB exams
education at various levels and roles for over 30 years, “It’s becoming are the Grade 12 exit exam, everything else about Centennial Schools
more difficult to find genuinely revolutionary reform at the system is different. A walk through Centennial Schools is an experience to
level in existing schools.” This is why Shaun and his team have set out behold. Not only have they re-engineered their methods of education
to pioneer and rectify this gap. delivery, but they’ve also created a learning environment that would

Fitness Centre 100 Café Learning Hub

Education | August 2022 | 14