Educators’ programme boosts maritime knowledge
Lawhill Maritime Academy hosts local educators
SOUTH AFRICA: In a bid to fuel the growing interest in maritime-related subjects at high school level, the Lawhill Maritime Academy in Simon’s Town hosted educators from across the country at the beginning of the winter school holidays to provide access to industry experts.
A group of about 40 educators from Durban, Gauteng and Cape Town enrolled at the Academy making use of the hostel and classroom facilities for a series of presentations aimed at broadening their knowledge and engagement with maritime topics.
“We were overwhelmed by the interest from high schools across the country that offer one or more of the maritime Matric subjects now available to South African learners,” said Debbie Owen, Programme Head at the Lawhill Maritime Academy, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
The intense five-day programme, which was organised in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Embassy of France, the Lawhill Maritime Educational Trust and Expertise France, covered topics aimed at educators teaching Marine Sciences, Maritime Economics as well as Nautical Science.
“We are particularly grateful to the members of the maritime industry who put up their hands to present specific topics on our programme,” said Owen, emphasising how the support would translate into better-equipped teachers and more passionate learners.
Participants were particularly privileged to have Brian Ingpen, commonly seen as the father of maritime education at high school level, on site to provide his own particular brand of passionate teaching. Ingpen has inspired a long legacy of maritime professionals over the years with his “oomph” in the classroom.
Work is also currently underway to revisit the curriculum of maritime-related subjects, and the industry will be asked to weigh in on potential changes and additions in the coming months as this project is finalised.
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