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[GALLERY] Groundbreaking education at the African School for Excellence

A couple of weeks ago we headed over to the African School for Excellence (ASE) in Tsakane township, where a small group of teachers, coders and benevolent backers are trying nothing then than the reinvention of learning for underprivileged communities, wherever they may be. The ASE model is all about taking the very best teachers, instilling students with confidence and a passion for learning, and then using technology to amplify that effect.

I wrote a piece about my visit here, which proved quite popular, as did our interview with the founders here.

In a couple of short weeks since then, pupils from the school have gone on to compete in the Lebati Science Fair in Ekhuruleni.

“The kids had obviously never been before,” says co-founder of ASE Jay Kloppenberg, “And we expected them to compete and do well but mainly go for the experience and see what sort of standard they had to aim for next year. They ended up beating Springs Girls High and coming first and third overall. That was our eighth graders competing against their 11th and 12th graders.”

Kloppenberg and his co-founder Nonhlanhla Masina have a lot to be proud of. In 18 months, their current eight graders have gone from scoring average marks on annual tests to hitting scores that put them in the top 10% of ninth graders globally. And Kloppenberg reckons the ASE model is already half the price of a traditional government school.

This is a project which I’ll be keeping a close eye on – as is the local department of education. So when I was invited back on Wednesday for the official groundbreaking on its permanent campus (right now ASE is leasing land from a nearby secondary school and teacher from temporary classroom buildings) I had to go along.

This is what the school will look like when it’s finished – apparently a clever eco-design which should stay warm in winter, cool in summer.

The architect's impression of the finished school.
The architect’s impression of the finished school.

This is what it looks like now.

Metal bases for the classroom blocks being placed on concrete.
Metal bases for the classroom blocks being placed on concrete.

The L-shapes are important. Each ‘L’ – and there are four arranged around a central quad – will have three classrooms laid out in a cluster. Lessons at ASE are split into three 30 minute sections: two of which are self-directed and one of which is overseen by a teacher. That way, the school can support high teacher ratios but small class sizes. Every half an hour, the classes move to the next block of the cluster as they rotate through to the next session. When the school is finished, it will have six clusters capable of supporting 800 scholars in total.

How the classroom rotation works.
How the classroom rotation works.
Another look at the first foundations, with Tsakane in the background.
Another look at the first foundations, with Tsakane in the background.
Co-founder Nonhlanhla Masina was raised in Tsakane. She holds a degree in molecular biology and more post-grad qualifications than we have space for in a caption.
Co-founder Nonhlanhla Masina was raised in Tsakane. She holds a degree in molecular biology and more post-grad qualifications than we have space for in a caption.
The awesome Thabisa Mhlakulwana lent her powerful voice with a few jazz and soul classics in English and isiXhosa.
The awesome Thabisa Mhlakulwana lent her powerful voice with a few jazz and soul classics in English and isiXhosa.
The kids' choir is also mostly self directed. And sounds great.
The kids’ choir is also mostly self directed. And sounds great.
District Director for Education Maureen Mthumunye. She says that she was skeptical at first, but ASE now has her full backing.
District Director for Education Maureen Mthumunye. She says that she was skeptical at first, but ASE now has her full backing.
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