Special Programmes

South Africa: Warwick in Africa Programme

What is this programme about?

NUS and Warwick University have teamed up to offer NUS undergraduate students opportunities to make a difference in lives of hundreds of African high school students in impoverished villages in South Africa through the Warwick in Africa Programme (WiA).

WiA is a Mathematic and English teaching programme in African high schools organized by Warwick University for its own students for the past years. The programme has been extremely successful and gained media attention in the United Kingdom. A 30-minute documentary film of the programme “Our World: Mission For Maths” was broadcasted on BBC News Channel in early October 2011.

Warwick in Africa aims to enhance the education of young people in Africa and it has been achieving significant improvements in the quality of teaching – since its start up in 2006 WiA has now benefitted over 90,000 young Africans in South Africa, Tanzania and Ghana. The programme is also having a profound effect on the volunteers, increasing the proportion of them that decide to enter teaching in the UK.

More information about the programme can be found here.  

When does the program take place?

14 July - 2 August (3 weeks)

Where does the programme take place?

NUS students will be attached to high schools in Kayamandi township on the edge of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Stellenbosch is situated about 50 km from Cape Town, the second-most populous city in South Africa. Stellenbosch is known worldwide for its quality wines and the spectacular beauty. It is home to one of the most prestigious Wine Regions in the world.

What is the program content?

NUS students, together with Warwick students, will be teaching Mathematics to high school African students in small townships in Stellenbosch.

NUS students will be teaching Mathematics classes consisting of 40 to 50 students (up to 75) aged 11 to 18. 

After being selected for the program and prior to their departure for South Africa, NUS students will undergo a teleconference pedagogy course conducted at NUS by a Warwick University academic faculty in May. The course aims to teach the participants how to prepare a lesson plan and manage a classroom. Students will be contacted by NUS IRO about the training course upon being admitted into the programme.

Student Teachers’ Job Description

Is credit available?

Multi-disciplinary across all faculties

Warwick University does not offer credit for WiA. Credit granting decision for NUS students is at the discretion of NUS Faculties. Students interested in obtaining credit must work with their faculty for credit mapping. IRO does not apply for credit transfer on the students’ behalf. A lit of faculty contacts can be found here.

What is the student accommodation?

Students will stay at housing facilities at Stellenbosch University.

How much does the program cost?

An estimate of program fee and living expenses below should give a good indication of cost.

Air fare Singapore- South Africa (round trip to Cape Town)	S$ 1,300
Accommodation (62 SGD per night for 21 nights)	S$1,302
Health Travel Insurance	S$ 100
Daily allowance for food (21 SGD per day for 22 days)	S$ 462
Local transport to school/back and trips	S$ 272
Vaccinations (may include Hepatitis A/B, Rabies and Meningitis vaccines)	S$ 507
Cultural Trip 1 Robben Island and Waterfront	S$ 63
Cultural trip 2 Table Mountain & District 6	S$ 63
Cultural trip 3 Cape Point	S$ 49
Stellenbosch admin (include airport transfers, orientation, registration, welcome dinner, 24 hour assistance, service fee (student card, internet, e-mail access, photocopying, laundry, gym)	S$ 146
Total (estimate for 21 nights)	S$4,264

Please note, these are estimated expenses and actual expenses may differ based on price shifts and personal spending habits!

Is financial assistance available?

Students participating in the program will be provided with IRO funding worth one-third of estimated total program cost stated in the table above.  The award provided by IRO will be paid directly to Warwick on behalf of NUS students to partially cover the accommodation and admin costs.

NUS Students’ Financial Commitment

NUS students selected to participate in the WiA will be required to fulfill the following:

Fundraise S$1,400 and contribute this amount to Warwick University to cover the program cost Apply for Science Student Overseas Exposure Fund (SSOEF) Apply for MOE overseas teaching grant (MoE scholars qualify for MOE CCA sponsorship fund which is available at 50% of the trip expenses, and capped at $500 for overseas teaching stint. Please contact MoE for more information).

 

How many placements are available?

5

What are the eligibility requirements?

NUS undergraduates from any faculty who have completed at least one year of study at NUS prior to participating in this programme Teaching MoE scholars are strongly encouraged to apply. Students should not be in their graduating semester prior to participating in the programme. CAP of 3.0 and above Applicants are required to: 1) Possess Mathematics knowledge and skills sufficient to teach high school math, and 2) Have high school teaching experience or have undergone a teaching practicum at Singapore high schools. Students majoring in Economics, Science and Engineering need not to show proof of math skills while students of other majors will need to submit scores of their A-level math/University-level math courses taken to show that they have sufficient math knowledge and skills to teach.

 

Is a visa required?

Students are to consult South African High Commission in Singapore to determine if a visa is required and to apply for an entry visa if needed. 

South African High Commission
15th Floor Odeon Towers
331 North Bridge Road
Singapore 188720
Tel: 6339 3319

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have proper entry documents for all countries they plan to visit as part of this programme!

How do I apply?

Application Deadline: Friday, 29 March 2013

Applications and Required Documents:

	Fill in Warwick in Africa Programme Online Application Form. Notes: NUS students are to select South Africa in question 9 Submit the following document via email to Ms Mai Chu at iroctm@nus.edu.sg by the deadline.
		IRO Application Form NUS Transcripts (unofficial transcript are accepted while exam results will not) A copy of passport biodata page Transcripts of A-level Mathematics courses taken if applicant is a major in disciplines other than Economics, Science and Engineering.

 

Who to contact for more information?

For additional information or related queries, please click here.