African project
Streetlight Schools
On January 13, 2016, the first Streetlight School opened in Johannesburg,
South Africa. The project has been registered for a 4-Star Green Star SA
Interiors rating with the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA)
by sustainability specialists, Solid Green Consulting.
S
treetlight Schools
is an innovative
low-cost primary
school model that
focuses on enquiry,
collaboration,
exploration, relevance
and the use of
technology to teach
and learn. This
unique approach empowers learners
to master core skills and develop
curiosity through collaborative
learning, technology-enabled
classes, project-based learning and
instruction.
The site for the school, Jeppe
Park Primary, is in the heart of
Johannesburg’s inner city, within
walking distance of Jeppe Station
and directly opposite Jeppe Park. The
school forms part of a mixed use, but
primarily residential, development
in an existing multi-storey building
owned by Bjala, a social enterprise
that applies innovative solutions and
unique approaches to urbanisation
challenges.
Started in October 2013 as an afterschool programme, the school has
evolved over two years into a fullyfledged school for 45 children – with
plans to eventually accommodate
200 learners. Melanie Smuts, CEO
and Founder of Streetlight Schools,
says, “I started Streetlight Schools to demonstrate that we have all the resources available
to create a high-quality, innovative education system in some of our most under-served
communities. And we can do so by being bold and innovative about how we think about
what we need in education, from curriculum to facilities.
Click here to find out more about Streetlight Schools
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