From 11–12 March, the Hanns Seidel Foundation’s Civics Academy once again brought together lecturers from across South Africa’s TVET colleges for its annual training on the updated lecturer guide “Facilitating Active Citizenship.” Held at the Ekurhuleni West TVET College Conference Centre in Germiston, the two-day training welcomed around 70 Life Skills and Computer Literacy (LSCL) lecturers from across the country.
Organised in close collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Training, the training opened on an inspiring note with a welcome address by Mr David Modiba, Deputy Director: TVET Curriculum Development. The programme placed a strong emphasis on peer-led learning, with regional Champions – who play a key role in supporting implementation in their regions – facilitating large parts of the sessions alongside the Civics Academy team. This created a dynamic, highly interactive learning environment that strengthened both ownership and expertise across the network.
Day one focused on bringing the updated lecturer guide to life in the classroom. Through practical exercises, lecturers engaged with ready-to-use lesson plans for Life Skills and Computer Literacy Topic 4: Citizenship, while exchanging ideas on how to make civic education more engaging and relevant for students. On the second day, the revised Civics Academy ICASS assessments – project-based assignments developed across different learning levels- were introduced and discussed.
Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Lecturers particularly valued the hands-on nature of the materials, which combine clear instructions with practical teaching tips, assessment criteria, and transparent marking guidelines. These resources not only enhance teaching quality but also significantly reduce preparation time.
Beyond the materials, the opportunity to exchange best practices and connect with colleagues from across the country added particular value. The training sparked fresh ideas for the classroom, with many participants planning to incorporate more interactive methods such as videos, role play, group work, and project-based learning to bring topics like elections, democratic participation, and active citizenship to life.
At the same time, participants highlighted the need for continued innovation, particularly in response to rapid developments in artificial intelligence, and expressed strong interest in further training opportunities and additional teaching resources.
A particularly encouraging outcome was that 82% of lecturers reported feeling confident to share their newly acquired knowledge with colleagues through internal trainings. This highlights the growing multiplier effect of the annual training, ensuring that its impact extends far beyond the workshop itself and continues to strengthen civic education across the TVET sector.