Though poles apart, two principals unite, transforming their schools.

The results are self-evident - if you enhance opportunities by having an extensive after school programme, children’s self-belief will increase and so will their academic results.

Ramón González welcomes his children to school
Two Principals in similar socio-economic situations, Ramón González who runs the Middle School 233 in the Bronx, New York, and Angus Duffet, Principal of Silikamva High in Hout Bay, South Africa, both have turned their schools around through extending the school day.

Both Principals motivated their own staff to stay after the school day and developed partnerships with outside organizations to have vibrant, varied activities for their schools. As González says, ‘I don’t need any more evidence that the after school programme works. Students were more engaged and much more ready to learn, sixth graders’ attendance jumped to 97 percent, and the school’s 2013 state ELA test scores were higher than any other public school with similar demographics. After two years, the school was performing 70 percent above all middle schools in New York City.’

Duffett also explained how his programme flourished, in a very poor area of Cape Town, Imizamo Yetho Township, where the vast majority of his students come from impoverished backgrounds.  His main motivation for running his game changer after school programme is ’to help children to take off their blinkers and show them that there is a world outside their community.’ His aim, by extending the day is ‘to produce excellence in his children’. Every student of his has to participate in at least two activities a week and he keeps his school open late every day to allow this to happen. Duffett sited the example of one of his pupils who came to the school with a background of gangsterism and was transformed by his school’s programme, becoming a prefect and leaving his school at the end of the year and now working in Europe. This shows how being involved in after school activities can broaden your horizons.

Angus Duffet with some of his learners
Both these innovative principals agree that having after school programmes really does increase the learning environment and is part of a holistic approach to education. This should be the norm in every school, particularly those schools where students are disadvantaged by their socio-economic situation but sadly this is not the case both in South Africa and the United States of America. González and Duffett with their inspirational leadership have turned around their schools dramatically. Every Principal in South Africa and the USA can make a difference as González says by ‘creating a clear purpose in your school where the after school programme has the same goal as the school’ so that both teachers and outside organisations work together as one whole.

Further, in a study at Stanford University, children who participated in arts-based after school activities such as drama were 4 more times likely to be recognised for academic achievement, 3 more times likely to be elected to leadership positions and 4 more times likely to participate in a maths or science fair.

The two game changers meet
González says that finding the right partnerships and teachers who can ‘make the children feel valued’ and 'creating lots of choice’ is the secret to his success in New York. Likewise Duffet believes that ‘to provide the same opportunities will lead to the same success as the more privileged schools'. Principals need to get their teachers involved in this and motivate them to be part of this after school process. Their teachers all go beyond their call of duty and have a passion for the development of their students.

Does your school have an active and enriching after school programme? The evidence is clear, children who have choice, will become motivated and attentive in school. It is time we all became game changers in our schools and it is important that parents realize the value and demand it from their schools.

González and Duffett spoke at The After School Game Changer Symposium hosted by the Western Cape Department of Education in Cape Town. This Education Department is really keen to enrich the lives of young people in this province of South Africa and understands that education doesn’t stop in the class room, involves partnerships with others, and most particularly is keen to get the buy-in from communities and parents to change the lives of each and every child in South Africa.

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