STARTING out nine years ago in the Western Cape, the education-enhancing programme Growsmart was launched in 60 schools in the Eastern Cape for the first time last week.
The education initiative which was started by the international property company Growthpoint Properties, will now be offered in 30 schools in and around East London, as well as in 30 schools in Port Elizabeth.
Working with the Eastern Cape department of education, the programme will target primary school children from grades 4 to 6 in order to assist the department in its efforts to better the standard of education in primary schools.
“This collaborative approach to boost education with the Eastern Cape Department of Education creates a meaningful and effective way to make a real, positive contribution to education in South Africa,” Growsmart programme head Jewel Harris said.
“We are extremely excited to bring this high-energy, high-impact programme to the Eastern Cape,” she added.
The programme’s inaugural project in the province will focus on boosting the literacy performance of primary school children through a specifically designed spelling bee competition.
Based on the school curriculum, Growsmart will provide each school with all the resources and materials needed to excel in this competition.
The programme’s story writing project has already produced more than 80 published authors under the age of 13 whose books are now being used in the classroom.
