The Mowbray Campus recently unveiled an exhibition of the history of teacher training colleges in education in the Western Cape. The exhibition was a timeline of teacher training colleges that dated back to the early 1800’s.
In honour of these training colleges Prof Maureen Robinson, Dean of the Education Faculty and Mr John Lewin, a former lecturer at the Faculty of Education, Johannesburg College of Education and English teacher participated in the unveiling of the exhibition.
Mr John Lewin presented the exhibition to members of staff and guests. “The exhibition was an attempt to signify the three R’s - Remembering, Recognising the contribution of those teachers and Recording the past,” said Mr Lewin.
The exhibition consisted of photos and pictures that portrayed teacher education in that era. It demonstrated the role of different themes such as churches during the teacher training college period. The exhibition displayed origins and closures of teacher training colleges, and how the laws of the country viewed it.
“So little was recorded on teacher training colleges. We appeal to the public who may have anything appropriate in their possession, to contribute to the cause,“ said Mr John Lewin. “Mr Lewin captured more than just a chronology of teacher’s colleges but a deeper connectedness that they had with people.
Each time a college closed there were emotional involvements. Where would we be if colleges were not sabotaged? Teachers now have an unclear identity”, said Dr John Volmink, Principal and CEO of the Cornerstone Christian College who rendered the key-note address.
Professor Robinson is compiling a publication that will remind teachers of their humility and honour the lives of teachers during the era of the teacher training colleges.
Written by CPUT News
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