How the Vula Programme at Hilton College is impacting the advancement of education in local communities in KwaZulu-Natal

Cape Town, 29 November 2022 – Hilton College in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands stands out among South African schools for a number of reasons.

For generations, those who have passed through its famous halls have excelled academically and on the sports field, with many going on to become prominent leaders in society.

But Hilton remains a pinnacle of excellence for another reason.

For more than 20 years, the Vula Programme at Hilton College has provided relevant, meaningful and cost-effective educational interventions and development opportunities for teachers and learners from more than 100 affiliated less-resourced schools in the KZN Midlands region.

“This remarkable track record not only emphasises the programme’s sustainability and longevity, but it has

also allowed for the development of long-lasting relationships of mutual trust and respect with a large number of Maths and Science teachers and officials throughout KwaZulu-Natal.”

Teacher participation is arranged through KwaZulu-Natal Education Department district officials, in particular Maths subject advisers in the Umgungundlovu, King Cetshwayo, Ilembe, Pinetown and Harry Gwala districts. Learner groups are set up in targeted interventions with schools identified as requiring assistance.

In the past two decades, some 500 Maths teachers and 300 Science teachers have been directly impacted by the programme, while more than 40 000 learners attended Vula events. The number of learners benefitting from improved Maths and Science education as a result is estimated to run into the “hundreds of thousands”.

What began as a rudimentary undertaking to meet various community needs had by 2004 become a highly specialised programme focusing on the Maths and Science needs of learners in the greater Midlands.

A strong information technology emphasis offered learners and teachers a vast selection of computer-based teaching resources, as well as training in the teaching methodologies best suited to the use of these resources. Since 2014, more than 200 Maths teachers have received laptops.

The main component of the Vula Mathematics Project is the Vula Mathematics Academy (VuMA), a term-long in-service training and development initiative for practising teachers from under-resourced schools.

The project also organises and offers several other training and enrichment activities, including The Laptop Project for teachers from rural schools in the marginalised Pholela and Bergville districts; a Maths Club for talented mathematicians from schools in the greater Edendale valley; and residential workshops and school holiday residential workshops.

The Vula Science Project, meanwhile, supports and assists Physical Science teachers in the use of technology and relevant laboratory equipment while providing opportunities for learners in Grades 10 to 12 to be exposed to relevant teaching materials and gain hands-on experience in conducting science experiments.

“In 2022 alone, more than 3 000 learners were assisted with Science lessons at their schools and 150 of these attended Saturday lessons at Hilton College,” says Smuts.

In addition, the Vula Intern Project allows interns to teach for a number of weeks at local Vula schools, with the remainder of their time being in the classrooms at Hilton College.

Today, the Vula Programme employs five staff who are also able to call on a pool of outside specialists when their expertise is required. Teachers participating in the programme are provided residential in-service training and are accommodated in the Vula Lodges, each of which has 12 twin-bedded en-suite rooms.

So successful has the programme been that at its 21st anniversary celebrations in April, the 12-room Vula Lodge 2 – Earl Snyder House, was officially opened as part of the festivities, joining Victor Daitz House in providing onsite accommodation for visiting and resident teachers.

Recently, an exciting new initiative, the Principals Leadership Project, was introduced.

Smuts explains that the project, launched in October, takes the form of a leadership forum and support group for school principals from Vula schools.

“The project is facilitated by Hilton College headmaster George Harris. Twenty principals from Vula schools were invited to participate and of these, eleven were able to attend,” he says.

“During the four days the group attended the college’s opening of term assembly and the Thursday staff development session. All the participants provided enthusiastic feedback at the end of the four days, and they have requested further sessions during 2023, which will be planned for.”

The Datatec Educational and Technology Foundation has supported the Vula Programme for a “considerable number of years”, Vula director Lloyd Smuts says, and this has allowed it to continue with its ongoing upskilling programmes without a break since 2001.

About Datatec Educational and Technology Foundation

Datatec, a Johannesburg-based multinational information and communications technology (ICT) solutions and services group, is a company with a heart. Recognising that education is the base on which a successful economy is built, the company funds educational organisations serving underprivileged communities across the country through its Datatec Educational and Technology Foundation. In this way, Datatec gives back to the country and the economy that fostered its initial growth.