In the heart of Limpopo, where aspirations often battle adversity, one educator dares to dream differently. Mr, Fredy Selowa, aTEACH SA Alumni from the 2017 cohort, has taken his calling for providing quality education beyond the classroom. For him teaching is not just an occupation, it is a generational obligation.
Mr. Fredy Selowa is a Physical Science and Mathematics teacher at Derek Kobe Secondary School. He has a background qualification in Bachelor of Science majored in Physics and Chemistry, BSc Hons majored in Physics and is currently enrolled for Masters doing research in the Flotation of Minerals.
In 2019 Mr. Fredy Selowa and Mr. Steven Nonyana while placed at Raeleng Full Service Secondary School in Waterberg, realised that they could make more of an impact and started SCIEMA CLINIC, which grew from an idea to provide extra classes to their immediate learners into a full-service programme that extended into taking learners from other schools.
Since then, this initiative has grown and now provides more than just lessons to learners but also, educators in the area are also offered classes upskill them on classroom management and breaking down the curriculum to engage learners and keep them interested in STEM the way SCIEMA CLINIC does.
Legacy Project refers to an initiative started by a TEACH SA Ambassador or Alumni, that continues to make a sustainable impact in the community they are placed in. These projects are driven by the passion and commitment to creating lasting change in the education landscape in all communities our Ambassadors are placed in.
THE IMPACT OF A LEGACY PROJECT
Since its inception, SCIEMA CLINIC has made a significant impact in two districts:
- Waterberg District: At Raeleng Full Service Secondary School, SCIEMA CLINIC has helped achieve a remarkable 100% pass rate in Physical Science and a
consistent 80% or higher pass rate in Mathematics from 2019 to date. - The programme’s success has attracted learners from other schools to join Raeleng Secondary School, seeking the quality STEM education that SCIEMA CLINIC provides.
In addition to in-school support, SCIEMA CLINIC offers:
- Community Classes: After-school and weekend classes in nearby communities to extend access to STEM education beyond the school walls.
- Professional Development: Workshops for educators teaching Mathematics and Physical Sciences, focusing on newly appointed educators, to enhance their skills and pedagogical approaches.
SCIEMA Project has been actively involved in improving student’s performance. The initiative has become a beacon for learners chasing dreams stitched in equations and scientific theories. This project supports mainly Grade 10 and 11 students with Physical Science and Mathematics.
Once, schools in the region he works barely celebrated a handful of matriculants each year with a Bachelor pass. Today those schools are producing 100% pass rates in these subjects and some of the highest achievers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) and about 100 students have enrolled at universities to study STEM undergraduate degrees.
Mr. Selowa believes that educators have ethical responsibility to build robust educational grounding and acknowledge learner’s strengths early. For him, teaching is not about finishing the syllabus, it is about lighting fires that last far beyond the classroom.
Through SCIEMA he has helped improve the quality of education by providing additional resources and structured learning support for students. The project’s main impact is providing mentorship, training and critical thinking development for leaners and encourage young individuals to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics).
Along his journey Mr. Selowa has faced some challenges in implementing and scaling the project and managed to overcome them by using different strategies and methods to teach learners and close the gaps that need to be closed. Another obstacle he encountered was financial crisis and lack of support system when he first moved to Capricorn district yet through collaborations, they have prevailed and envision scaling this initiative into more districts.
Being a Teach SA Ambassador has made him grow professionally and personally and shaped his researching skills which made him an excellent project initiator. His dream is to build academy that continues to shape futures long after he’s gone.
The SCIEMA CLINIC is more than a name, it is a vision integrated with a profound belief in quality education, and in a system that will outlive its founders. Mr. Selowa imagines SCIEMA Academy as a space not only for Mathematics and Science pedagogy, but also for exhibitions, exploration and empowerment. His hope is that it grows into an institution driven by the community for the community.
At a close to his recent reflection, Selowa expressed a concern that sits close to many hearts in education: the limited systems in place for working with allies to address career health and long-term empowerment. Through SCIEMA, he aims to fill those gaps with structure, methods and with compassion with other educators.
Mr. Selowa believes deeply in the power of young people, not just their brilliance in the classroom, but their boundless potential when they are truly seen, guided and invested in.
In a country that still battles inequality in its classrooms, educators like Mr. Selowa are not just teaching, they are rewriting the rules of what it means to lead.
To hear more about Fredy Selowa SCIEMA CLINIC watch the Youtube video below: