The Acting Head of the Department of Wellness Sciences, Assoc Prof Kareemah Najaar, has been selected as one of the finalists in Good Hope FM’s Warrior Woman Awards.

The awards honour “South African women who are changing the game, not for applause, but because it’s who they are at their very core”.

Najaar is a finalist in the Education and Research category and is being recognised for the matric Life Science Revision Project.

Launched in 2018 by Najaar, the initiative was designed to support learners in achieving the minimum entry requirements for higher education science programmes.

“I am very honoured and overwhelmed to have been selected as a finalist. This vision to support our matrics from disadvantaged backgrounds is only realised because of the amazing team that I have,” she said.

“Being recognised for our work and passion is extremely humbling and in fact further ignites me to continue striving to redress the current education inequalities and to continue growing our collaborations so that we are able to extend our reach to additional high schools.”

Asked why she started the project, Najaar said: “I believe that high school learners registered in STEM programmes, are in the programmes because they love science, but their socio-economic statuses unfortunately put them at a significant disadvantage”.

“What if we could be the difference for these matrics, provide opportunities for them so that they may qualify for STEM programmes at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)? By creating a community of practice in which we combine the educational resources from their schools and from the HEIs, would be a powerful collaboration to support the learners.”

The project has grown from strength to strength.

“It has even expanded to include programmes that support our young female learners and to empower women in academia. I feel in many ways it is an extension of myself and an integral part of my academic path. Seeing the positive feedback from the learners and teachers makes me extremely proud to be allowed to support our future generation.”

To vote for Najaar, SMS WWA25, Kareemah Najaar, your name, surname and ID number to 37766.

For more on the awards, click here.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT and the Western Cape Government Department of Health have signed an important agreement pertaining to teaching, training and research opportunities for students in the health sciences.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, and the Head of Health in the Western Cape, Dr Keith Cloete. signed the Bilateral Agreement (BLA) on 19 November.

Prof Penelope Engel-Hills, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, said the agreement is essential “to ensure the ongoing education of students in our programmes that need access to the provincial clinical platform for the workplace learning component of the programme”.

She said the signing of the BLA follows a Multi-Lateral Agreement (MLA) signed between five parties: Western Cape Government Health, CPUT, Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape, a few years ago.

“The MLA is an agreement to establish the rules of engagement for the education of healthcare professionals at the four higher education institutions, in cooperation with the Department of Health in the province, so as to ensure equitable access to the clinical platform.”

Following the signing of the MLA there was a lengthy process of engagement until each institution signed a BLA with the Western Cape Government: Health.

“The BLAs at the four higher education institutions are premised on the 12 principles agreed to between the parties and move us in the direction of a strong partnership with a more equitable approach to funding, student placements, joint appointments, etc.”

The departments within the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences that are directly involved are Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences and Emergency Medical Sciences while Nursing will also be an important stakeholder in the agreement. Engel-Hills said Dental Sciences has peripheral involvement and Ophthalmic Sciences may become part of the agreement with the offering of new programmes.

In a post on the Western Cape Government Health Facebook page, Dr Saadiq Kariem, Western Cape Government Health Chief of Operations, described the signing as a historic moment and stated: “This agreement will establish governance structures between CPUT and Western Cape Government Health. We have an existing platform, but now we have a formal agreement on what our students will do in our facilities, a code of training, the types of training they will receive and from whom they can expect training”.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.