1. The Cape Town Science Centre is hosting Africa Code Week "Train the Trainer" workshops funded by an international software company and implemented by Simplon and Galway Education Centre.

2. Africa Code Week is a continent-wide initiative to promote coding (computer programming) to youth using freely available software.

3. The Africa Code Week "Train the Trainer" workshops are offered specifically to the Western Cape teachers for free.
3.1 The free "Train the Trainer" workshops for teachers will address the following:

  • Why coding/computer programming for young learners?
  • How to teach coding/computer programming using SCRATCH (free software).
  • How to organise a coding/computer programming workshop for learners aged 8 to 16 years old.
  • How to organise workshops for learners during the actual Africa Code Week from 15 to 23 October 2016.
3.2 These workshops empower teachers to teach learners simple coding skills. Coding (computer programming) creates an awareness of coding/computer programming and fostering an interest in 21st century learning skills beyond the classroom, promoting:

  • literacy;
  • Mathematics;
  • problem solving skills;
  • computer literacy skills; and
  • procedural literacy, i.e. thinking about processes in the world.
4. Africa Code Week is an initiative now in its 2nd year and the implementers are encouraging Western Cape teachers to be among the first to engage in this continent-wide historical initiative by registering to take part in the free "Train the Trainer" workshops. Participating teachers will be given free resources, refreshments and a Certificate of Attendance.

5. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) encourages schools to register and participate in the Africa Code Week "Train the Trainer" workshops in 2016.

6. The WCED requests that schools take note of the relevant dates for this event on 22 and 23 July 2016 (Friday afternoon and Saturday). Teachers can attend a morning or afternoon session of no more than 90 minutes on either one of these days.

7. All communication will be via email, SMS and/or telephone and must be directed to the Cape Town Science Centre. Teachers must indicate their preferred mode of communication when registering.

8. For further enquiries or to register please contact the Cape Town Science Centre telephonically, by fax or visit their website:

Telephone 021 300 3200 (Gabi or Info); 083 276 9501 (Julie)
Fax 086 519 7227
Email nomfundo@ctsc.org.za or julie@ctsc.org.za
Website http://ctsc.org.za

9. Principals are requested to bring this minute to the attention of all Grades 3 to 10 teachers.


SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT
DATE: 2016:07:14