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Among those attending the intimate ceremony formally opening the office were (from left): British ORT Honorary President Sir David Sieff; ORT Chair Western Cape Nilly Baruch; ORT South Africa National Chairman Irwin Lipmworth; ORT SA National Vice Chairman Ricci Lyons; ORT Tech Trust Past Chairman David Susman; ORT-TECH Trust Chairman Dorienne Levitt; and ORT-Tech Director Alta Greef. |
"If there is one tool that will enable people to rise above their circumstances it is education, particularly education that leads to the acquisition of useful and marketable skills." — Nelson Mandela
For the first time in its 17-year history, the nerve center of ORT-Tech, the arm of ORT South Africa, which trains educators in the teaching of mathematics, science and technology, has an exclusive, permanent home. For the past 10 years, ORT-Tech has been sharing office space at the MTN Science Center in Cape Town. The lease, which is due to expire this year, prompted the search for new premises.
ORT-Tech's nine full-time staff members have moved into a building in Cape Town's northern suburbs. From there they will continue to run programs which have benefited thousands of teachers and their hundreds of thousands of students. The converted four-bedroom house in Bellville has been named after David Susman, an honorary life president of ORT South Africa and a former Managing Director of Woolworths, one of South Africa's largest retail chains.
ORT-Tech Chairman Dorienne Levitt said the relocation had been an example of good governance. "Not one penny of programmatic funds was used in the purchase, renovation or furnishing of the new office building," Ms. Levitt said. "All the costs were covered by a special fundraising campaign."
ORT-Tech was established by World ORT in 1993 as the ORT Science and Technology Education Program (ORT STEP). At the launch, President Nelson Mandela said: "If there is one tool that will enable people to rise above their circumstances it is education, particularly education that leads to the acquisition of useful and marketable skills."
In fulfillment of his words, World ORT advised the newly elected government on the inclusion of Technology as a Learning Area in the new South African Curriculum. ORT STEP was implemented across South Africa until 1998 since when it has focused on the Western Cape as ORT-Tech.
ORT-Tech addresses one of the greatest challenges facing South Africa — to develop, empower and equip educators to provide effective technology education and prepare today's learners for tomorrow's world. The project's holistic approach does not limit its support to the provision of specific knowledge and skills in science, mathematics and technology education, but simultaneously promotes personal growth, confidence, creativity and cognitive skills.
It offers courses in the Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE), a qualification which has been accredited by Rhodes University and the Cape University of Technology.
Technology and the need to continuously learn and adapt have become a way of life. This constant transformation in today's dynamic, technological world makes it difficult, even for the most accomplished educators, to maintain the pace. South Africa is particularly disadvantaged in this regard, given the gaps in its educational system aggravated by the legacy of Apartheid.
Among its highly effective programs is ORT SEED (Sustainable Educator Empowerment and Development) which provides its ACE qualified teachers with practical classroom support to help them implement their new-found knowledge.
