Nadja Kuhlmeier and Christin Nadermann, graduates in biology and chemistry, spent two months at a high school in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. We spoke to them about their experiences - and about extremes in everyday school life.
QUESTION: What was your experience of lessons and everyday school life in South Africa?
NADERMANN: The school system there is structured very differently to that in Germany. The pupils wear a school uniform and lessons are organised very hierarchically: The teachers explain and write on the blackboard, the pupils copy. The school was very poorly equipped. There was a lack of textbooks and exercise books. Some pupils didn't even have a pencil. What was really shocking for us was that the teachers used a cane in class.
QUESTION: What was your reaction to that?
KUHLMEIER: It was a very oppressive situation for us. It was only over time that we learnt to accept that we couldn't simply change things. The teachers were strict, but they could also be very warm at the same time. For example, the headmaster gave away his lunch every morning to pupils who didn't have any. These extremes were part of everyday school life.
QUESTION: For your Master's thesis, you asked the pupils about their ideas on evolution. What did you find out?
NADERMANN: Many pupils' ideas about evolution are strongly influenced by religion. They pray together in their families and at school. However, a few children were also critical and questioned the biblical doctrine of creation.
QUESTION: Did you have close personal contact with the pupils?
KUHLMEIER: We once accompanied a pupil home. We realised why she never does her homework: she lived with her family in one of the countless corrugated iron huts. There was no table and only one bed, which the family of eight shared.
QUESTION: Apartheid was officially abolished in South Africa in 1994. What are your impressions of white and black South Africans living together?
NADERMANN: Segregation still pervades almost all areas of life. Only a few black people have made it into higher positions. That is why there are still many problems. There is often a lack of understanding for the other culture, resulting in misunderstandings. As guests, we were easily able to go on excursions with the black headmaster and spend our free time with our white neighbours. However, meeting up with all our acquaintances was unthinkable - both sides refused to do so.
QUESTION: What experiences did you gain - for your academic appointment as a teacher, for everyday life?
KUHLMEIER: When we came back, we realised: We are quite spoilt and we often complain at a very high level here. Pupils don't need show lessons to learn and be happy. It's much more important that human relationships don't fall by the wayside.
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THE BACKGROUND: EXCHANGE WITH SOUTH AFRICA
The university has been cooperating with Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, since 1998. The focus is on teacher training and further education. Biology didactics expert Prof Dr Corinna Hößle and education scientist Prof Dr Karsten Speck have been spokespersons for the partnership with NMMU since 2012. In October last year, the project "Studies of Diversity in Different Educational Systems. Research on Teaching and Learning in South Africa and Germany". The aim is to enable student teachers to acquire intercultural skills in the respective partner country and to transfer the partnership to the future professional field of school. In addition to the exchange of academics, which is funded by the Ministry of Science, the exchange of students is also to be further promoted. Over the past three years, a total of ten biology teacher training students have already written their Master's thesis on teaching and learning research during a stay at the NMMU. Studies on teaching and learning research in schools were carried out in South Africa.
