Equipping maritime educators

Workshops aims to provide tools for school teachers

SOUTH AFRICA: The South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) hosted a workshop aimed at equipping school teachers with the resources to improve the quality of maritime education at high school level in the country in Gqeberha last week.

Maritime-related subjects such a Maritime Economics are being offered at a number of new schools across all the provinces and SAIMI’s workshop represents a renewed effort to assist educators – many of whom have no formal interaction with the maritime sectors – in providing guidance to learners that could guide them towards potential careers in the maritime industry.

The workshop was hosted at the Nelson Mandela University's Ocean Science Campus in the Eastern Cape in collaboration with key stakeholders such as Education and Training Authorities (SETA’s), South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Institute for Coastal and Marine Research (CMR), South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), and the Department of Basic Education (DBE).

The two-day program covered essential maritime subjects such as marine sciences, maritime economics, and nautical sciences. Interactive sessions, site visits, and immersive experiences in activities linked to the maritime industry, including visits to the Marine Robotic Centre, Ocean Sciences building, and SANCCOB Rehabilitation Centre for Penguins, were integral components of the workshop.

SAIMI appointed a number of facilitators to help host the sessions on specific subjects and catered for up to three maritime teachers from each participating school.

PHOTO SOURCE: Lawhill Maritime Academy Facebook Page: Aubrey Sosibo (Maritime Economics) and Asheeqah Mallum (Marine Science) from Lawhill joined the workshop.