Teaching to teach in order to build a future in SA

Management and staff from FOXit, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and service provider focused on project and portfolio management (PPM) in business, are fully behind the Teach2Teach business and believe this community and social investment initiative will lead to the development of much-needed future technical skill sets.

The Centurion-based company is a partner of Teach2Teach and its affiliation forms part of a focused, strategic broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) and corporate social responsibility programme.

FOXit provides financial and business support and is a regular sponsor of equipment and other critical resources that are used to sustain operations at Teach2Teach.

“The need is here and now,” says Aldo van Tonder, CEO of FOXit. “If corporate SA and government do not react with more vigour to the educational needs of our children, we will have missed a critical opportunity to help safeguard the future. We are encouraged by the difference technology continues to make every day in the lives of educators.”

Teach2Teach is an organisation that equips teachers at underprivileged schools with the necessary skill sets to help them perform their duties, and this, ultimately, helps to 'add a brick or two' to the foundation of an educated country.

It does this by providing advice, on-the-job training and support to teachers, many of whom are not adequately qualified or trained.

Management at Teach2Teach say a large number of these schools do not have the funds available to help teachers acquire the necessary training. Moreover, the country's preschool system does not effectively address the need to educate and up-skill student teachers.

Spokesperson for Teach2Teach Wendy Watson-van Tonder says: “There are funds available, but these important resources are not always distributed effectively, so the input and support of business is absolutely critical and highly appreciated.”

The organisation takes a hands-on approach and trains the teachers on-site, in the classroom. This dedication to hand-over-hand training achieves the best possible results.

Watson-van Tonder adds: “It is clear that FOXit is passionate about education and they want to use their corporate sponsorship to not only achieve the necessary BBBEE certificate and accreditation, but to help equip our teachers with skills that are useful.”

Teach2Teach is currently working closely with the Itumeleng Lethabong Preschool and is using this project as a beta-test situation to ensure that its approach and methodology achieves results.

Mayne Hezekiel, Chairperson of the school's board, says the training and support of teachers is critical to the sustainability of effective education programmes and the sustainability of schools.

“As a parent and stakeholder in the education system of this country, I am encouraged by the proactive role that companies like FOXit are playing in supporting our educators.”

Dierdre Strydom, HR Director at FOXit, comments: “We believe that the spirit of Ubuntu - of paying it forward - makes a lasting difference to South African society. By supporting an organisation like Teach2Teach, we are building the foundation for future generations of this country. There is no reason why Africa cannot produce the next Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates or Steve Jobs - and we need to facilitate this,” Strydom added.