African EduWeek launches exciting video inviting educators to "Enter a World of Educational Knowledge"

The ninth annual SABC Education African EduWeek plans to once again address pertinent issues and urgent challenges in the education sector and more than 90 expert speakers will be on hand to address the more than 3500 teachers and education professionals who are expected at the Gallagher Convention Centre in July. A video featuring some of the leading experts and partners has just been released and is available for online viewing and publishing.

The African EduWeek conference and exhibition takes place from 1-2 July with extensive free-to-attend EduTheatres and sponsored workshops with practical knowledge and training for teachers and educators and dozens of suppliers with the latest classroom technology and services.

Last year, African EduWeek signed an exclusive media partnership with SABC Education that has taken the event to the next level by reaching the target audience in the farthest corners of the country, through its radio, TV and online outreach.

The Commissioning Editor of SABC Formal Education, Fani Matsebane, says "there is a myriad of challenges that we face in education. As a country this shows that we have to come together because education is not just a particular sector's problem but it is a societal issue. We all have to put our heads together to say how best we can address the ills and issues and move the country forward. At SABC Education what we have found is that there is an attitude that we have got to address, mainly with the learners themselves in schools, but more importantly the other constituency that for us is critical and key, and that is the parents."

"Bringing new energy into schools"

"At this year's EduWeek we will focus on innovation for principals where we will share new ideas" says Marius Ehrenreich, President of the South African Principals' Association (SAPA), that has also joined the event as an official supporting body this year.

He explains: "we will share new ideas that can be very useful for principals to bring new energy into their schools and from where they can possibly develop some new programmes for their schools. For teachers we are looking at the Macmillan programme specifically, quality poetry teaching in FET and then of course as always we will look at best practice. We will have an opportunity to have many, many teachers together and so this presents us with a wonderful opportunity to network, to share and what better place to share best practice than with such a large audience of teachers."

E-Tech Africa: huge impact of technology

Technology in the classroom is always an important focus at the event, and this year the inaugural E-Tech Africa will give a futuristic view of teaching. "There has been a huge impact on teachers with the influx of technology over the last few years", Linda Bradfield, ICT Co-ordinator, St Mary's School, Johannesburg is quoted as saying in the African EduWeek video.

She adds: "and I think the issue is that there is a flood of new technology by new companies that are developing devices and developing what they feel is the ultimate solution for teaching and learning. So I would say that teachers are actually quite baffled by this flood of new technology on the market and it is difficult for them to make decisions based on their real needs. So I would think that it is important for teachers, before they embrace any type of technology, to develop and idea or a vision of what they would like to achieve."

"If you look at education in South Africa, there is a lot of negativity, but there are a lot of positive things that are being done across the industry, by government, by the private sector and by government and private sector working together" says Andre Christian, Business Development Manager for Intel, global technology and education giant, in his interview.

Intel is the diamond sponsor again for SABC Education African EduWeek. "I think the larger public and the parents and students may not be aware of what is being done and what is being planned" says Andre Christian, "so these type of events make it possible for the larger environment in education to become aware of what is actually available in terms of making an impact on education and how they can also be involved."

The ninth annual SABC Education African EduWeek is the only all-encompassing education event taking place in South Africa in 2015, and widely regarded as the premier education event on the African continent. The global technology giant Intel returns as the exclusive diamond sponsor again. Netschools, Pearson and MTN Foundation are the platinum sponsors.

African EduWeek is organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.

Event dates and location:

SABC Education African EduWeek: 1-2 July 2015
EduTheatres and workshop programme: 1-2 July 2015
Exhibition: 1-2 July 2015
E-Tech Africa: 1-2 July 2015
African EduWeek Industry Awards: 1 July

Location: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, South Africa
Website: www.educationweek.co.za
Twitter: https://twitter.com/African_EduWeek

Contact:
Communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone : +27 21 700 3558
Mobile: +27 82 562 7844
Email: moc.tnegilletnips@lobdoor.eiramenna