{"id":3734,"date":"2011-08-14T12:00:59","date_gmt":"2011-08-14T10:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/08\/new-centre-for-the-community-school\/"},"modified":"2011-08-14T12:00:59","modified_gmt":"2011-08-14T10:00:59","slug":"new-centre-for-the-community-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/new-centre-for-the-community-school\/","title":{"rendered":"New Centre for the Community School"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University\u2019s Faculty of Education is responding to the challenges of education by establishing a Centre for the Community School \u2013 a first of its kind in the country \u2013 to be located within the faculty.<\/p>\n

The launch of the Centre takes place on Friday, 26 August, at 16:00 at the university\u2019s Missionvale Campus. The keynote speaker is foremost scholar and expert on education and inequality in America, Prof Pedro Noguera. His research focuses on ways in which schools are influenced by the social and economic conditions of the communities where they are located.<\/p>\n

An open invitation to concerned parents, teachers, principals and others who wish to become part of the education solution is being extended to the immediate communities of Missionvale to attend the opening function.<\/p>\n

Newly-appointed Centre director Dr Al Witten says recognising that the answers to society\u2019s most challenging questions lie at the crossroads of many disciplines. As a result, the work of the Centre will be cross-disciplinary and inclusive. It will draw on expertise and experience from a range of other areas and departments at NMMU<\/a>, including psychology, health, and development studies in shaping the scope of research projects and engagement activities in support of communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe centre will focus on developing and expanding the knowledge base of community schools in the country \u2013 a grouping of schools that are engaged in simultaneous efforts to improve teaching and learning, as well as address some of the social challenges that affect these core processes,\u201d says Dr Witten, who has moved from Cape Town<\/a> to Nelson Mandela Bay to head the new initiative.<\/p>\n

He says these schools work to achieve their objectives by building active partnerships with parents, community members, and other education stakeholders.<\/p>\n

The Centre will aim to:<\/strong><\/p>\n