Project synthesis

The Ikhwezi Whole School Development Project was established as a pilot programme in 1998, after the completion of a study commissioned by SDC and the Eastern Cape Department of Education to look at constraints in education delivery in the area. The project, on its fourth phase, addresses specific problems and helps in the development of primary schools in the region.

Strategy/Objectives

The goals for Ikhwezi project are:

• Development of school clusters into self-reliant, mutually supportive school communities with each cluster centred on a nodal school, which has a multi-purpose resource centre.
• Develop and support the training, assessment, and monitoring and administrative capacities of relevant education officials.
• Develop management, administrative and IT capacities of district personnel to manage more effectively and administer the development of primary education in their districts.
• Training for school communities in life skills, with a focus on HIV/AIDS.

Target group

The project is targeted at district officials, principals, school-governing bodies (SGBs) and educators from 180 schools in Bizana, Mount Ayliff, Flagstaff and Lusikisiki districts. The ECDoE will continue with the work after the end of the project.

Activities and Expected Results

The project is expected to achieve the following results:

• Skill District Development Teams whose role includes development and support of training, assessment, monitoring and administrative capacities relevant to their own districts, as well as attending to issues of concern where necessary.
• Provide ICT equipment to nodal schools in the clusters, which will improve communication. Principals, teachers and School Governing Body members will be trained in computer skills, empowering them to use this technology.
• In application of  HIV/AIDS as a cross-cutting issue, there will be the establishment and training of an HIV/AIDS co-ordination team, responsible for ensuring that the HIV and AIDS-related needs of the clusters are met.

Partners

The Ikhwezi is a departmental project with the following service providers:

• Media in Education Trust (Managing Agent)
• Cooper King Trust
• English Language Education Trust.
  Other networks include Imbewu, Isithole and QLP projects, also operating in the Eastern Cape, as well as other NGOs and educational institutions in the province.

Project duration

The project is from November 2001 until October 2004.

Funding

SDC supported this project from its inception in 1998 with R10.3m. An additional R12.9m has been allocated for this phase.

Geographical area

The Ikhwezi Project operates in the Northeast region of the Eastern Cape in the districts of Bizana, Flagstaff, Mount Ayliff and Lusikisiki.

Contact address

Ikhwezi
P O Box 1546
Kokstad 4700
Tell: (039) 727-1748
Fax: (039) 727-3414
E-mail: ikhproj@futurenet.co.za