SOUTH AFRICAN HISTORY PROJECT

PRESENTATION TO EDUCATION PORTFOLIO

COMMITTEE

Cape Town

5 March 2002

A Values in Education Initiative

History and Archaeology Report (November 2000)

“The teaching of history is central to the promotion of human values, including that of tolerance. History is one of the memory systems that shape our values and morality, for it studies, records and diffuses knowledge of human failure and achievement over millennia”.

Mission

To establish initiatives that will bring history researchers and scholars together to review, revise and (re)write history textbooks.

To initiate activities that will resurrect interest in the study of history by young people

Timeframe

July 2001 – June 2004

Funding

Carnegie (R4,4 million) DoE (R4,173 million)

TOTAL: R8,573 million

IMPLEMENTATION

A national History and Heritage Schools’ Competition on Heritage Day, 24 September 2002

Launch of an annual History and Heritage Month in September 2002

A fully inclusive HistoryNet with relevant role players (http://education.pwv.gov.za/sahp)

Implementation (continued)

A History of Apartheid on the 10th anniversary of Freedom Day in April 2004 so that our children can never say “we did not know”

Oral history workshops with school communities over the next three years

Provincial Workshops: April / May 2002 (History Roundtables)

An Inaugural National History Workshop: 14 – 16 June 2002

Establishment of a National History Teachers’ Networking Forum

Evaluation: June 2003 and June 2004

Increased awareness of human rights and history in schools

Important national historical events Important national biographies Highlights:

21 March; 27 April; 16 June; 09 August

Objectives of the South African History Project

To encourage the recording of unwritten histories through the oral tradition.

To create forums which discuss the nature of history and history teaching in schools and devise strategies on how it can be improved and strengthened.

To undertake studies and initiate activities that will strengthen history teaching in the context of the development of the National Curriculum Statement.

Sub-projects

Advocacy and Communication Educator Development Learning Support Materials Development Curriculum Development Oral History Research

Targets

June 2003: Oversee and monitor training of 720 lead educators in country (provincial educators trained)

October 2003: 21 600 educators trained January 2004: 1 080 lead educators

trained (provincial educators trained) April 2004: 32 400 educators trained

Networking Partners to achieve aims

IKS Projects (Dr Wally Serote) SADET (Road to Democracy Oral History Project) National Archives ABSAW Project Parliamentary Millennium Project South African Chapter of African Renaissance (SACAR) Youth Commission Human Rights Commission NRF CODESRIA Truth and Reconciliation Commission

SAHRA (relative stakeholders in Heritage sector)

SABC Education Unions / Associations National Forum of Schools Governing

Bodies

Thank you Enkosi kakhulu

Dr June Bam

CEO

South African History Project