South Africa: Study of Primary Education

Summer 2009: July 2 to July 31 (tentative dates)

Program Location

The Gauteng region of South Africa is home to Johannesburg, the “Place of Gold, Pretoria, the nation’s capitol, and Soweto, center of the struggle against apartheid.  Anthropological finds in the area of the Cradle of Mankind provides us with opportunities discover our human roots while travel to the Lesedi Cultural Village demonstrates life in five different African cultures.  Mpumalanga Province  is home to Kruger National Park and the  “Big 5” as well as the beautiful Blyde River Canon with God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and three rondavels.  At the southern most tip of the country Cape Town is home to the beauty of Table Mountain, the winelands and garden district as well as the history of Robben Island, place of imprisonment for the nation’s leaders of the fight for democracy.

Academic Program

To contextualize our understanding of modern educational practices in South Africa we’ll travel through South Africa visiting a number of locations and museums that reflect the history of the country leading to democracy.  To better understand the promise and challenges of education in a democratic nation, we will meet with a variety of professionals working in Non-Governmental Agencies (NGOs) and at the University of Pretoria’s Early Childhood Education Department. In the rural village of Loding we’ll lead a winter camp and then we’ll assume the role of teachers at Child Academy, planning and teaching lessons to children in grades K-5. Our reflections, through journals and presentations, on education in South Africa will allow us to consider America’s own promises and challenges to educating the next generation of citizens in our own country.

Instructional methods include lectures, guided tours, field work, journal assignment and/or papers, presentations to classes, COE international share fair, and a post-experience follow-up interview.

Tentative course offerings:
ELED 501: Comparative Study of Primary Education in South Africa and the United States

Accommodations

Students will reside in hotels and host families in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Loding and Kruger National Park, South Africa. Group meals will be provided.

Program Costs

For the current projected costs for this program, please click on the following link to the Fees for JMU Study Abroad Programs page.

Application

For more detailed instructions and to download the application, please click on the following link to the Applications and Forms section for JMU Short-Term Programs.

In addition to the Short-term Application, interested students should submit an essay and contact information for a faculty reference. A personal interview will also be required. Applicants must have a 2.75 minimum GPA. Applicants must be admitted into the ELED Program or have permission of the instructor. Rising senior and graduates are preferred; some juniors will be considered for six credits of undergraduate study.

For More Information

For additional information about the South Africa: Study of Primary Education program, please contact the program director:

Dr. Teresa Harris
Professor
Early Childhood, Elementary and Reading Education
Tel: 540-568-3866
E-mail: harristt@jmu.edu