The National Curriculum Statement in South Africa requires that all subjects address the cross-cutting principle of human rights, social justice, inclusivity and a healthy environment. This means that all subjects are ‘carriers’ of this important principle. Each subject needs to reflect the principle in ways that are appropriate to the subject and its rationale. This is why we find a focus on a healthy environment in all subjects. At times it is obvious, and at other times less so but we can infuse all subjects with a focus on a healthy environment and make links to themes of social justice, human rights and inclusivity.

For ‘Fundisa for Change’ or ‘teaching for change’, it is essential to know your subject well, particularly to understand how the environment and sustainability, social justice, human rights and inclusivity dimensions can be ‘brought out’ and highlighted for transformative education. However, content knowledge on its own is not enough, and the creative teacher uses a wide range of teaching methods to mediate learning successfully in ways that support active learner participation and help learners to successfully make meaning of what is being taught in the subject.

To support successful learning, it is also important to give adequate attention to high quality assessment. Assessment should be oriented to support better learning, and should support teachers and learners to better understand what is going well, and what can be improved. Finally, environmental content in the curriculum has potential to shape and inform the practical life of the school as it can contribute to creating healthy learning environments.

The Fundisa for Change courses are specially designed to strengthen the integration of the principle on human rights, social justice, inclusivity and a healthy environment into the teaching of CAPS in ways that support transformative learning, as well as transform learning environments, allowing teachers and learners to contribute to building environmentally sustainable and healthy schools and society, as envisaged in the South African Constitution.

In order to use the subject-specific Fundisa for Change courses, it is important to first familiarise yourself with the core elements of the Fundisa for Change courses:

• Know your Subject
• Improve your Teaching Practice
• Improve your Assessment Practice

To do this, start the programme with the Core Introduction Module, Introduction to ESD Teaching Practices and Fundisa(Teach) for Change. This is relevant to ALL Fundisa for Change courses and is an essential starting point for everyone. This will explain how the Fundisa for Change programme supports the CAPS curriculum with transformative teaching, learning and assessment processes. It will also introduce how the Fundisa for Change subject courses can be expanded to support whole school development and the development of transformative learning environments. This Core Introductory Module is open access and free of charge. Should you wish to join the Fundisa for Change programme to access and complete the other courses, please contact the programme coordinator. These courses are specifically designed for South African teachers and teacher education.

The videos below explains how to register for the online courses and how you can claim your Level 1 SACE points after you’ve completed your one of our online courses.

Click below to register for the Introduction to ESD and Fundisa for Change online course, or click on the course icon to view the course introduction and structure.