WATER EDUCATION PROGRAM

INTRODUCTION

As legal custodian of South Africa's water and forestry resources, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) must ensure that these resources are sustained for inter-generational equity.

• In order to achieve sustainability DWAF promotes community-based water management, which is characterised by community participation. Community participation will be effective only if citizens of our country are empowered with knowledge and skills that will enable them to understand and accept that: South Africa is a water scarce country hence water must be used efficiently.
• Citizens pay for the services, not for "water" because the perception of most citizens is "water is a gift from God so we should not pay for it".
• Their involvement and participation is crucial in water resource management.

  On that basis DWAF has undertaken various strategic capacity building initiatives.

BACKGROUND

In 1996 DWAF launched a schools-based education programme called 2020 Vision for Water. It is managed by the Chief Directorate: Water Use & Conservation.

The 2020 Vision for Water Programme is aimed at empowering learners with knowledge and skills that will enable them to use water efficiently, conserve natural resources, participate in water resource management, make informed decisions and then transfer the knowledge to their parents. The youth has been identified as a target group because they are the future leaders and communities of this country, and they play a key role to change the mindset of communities. Since 1997 the programme is active in all nine provinces.

The 2020 Vision for Water Programme has been integrated with the Working for Water schools-based programme and is called the Water Education Programme (WEP).

During the past two years WEP has been integrated into the school curriculum as well as with similar programmes within the DWAF. During the 2001 the National Department of Education revised the school curriculum and invited various stakeholders to participate. DWAF participated in this process with the aim of integrating water education into the revised curriculum. Environmental education is now part of the school curriculum which includes water as a component.

The programme is done in partnership with the Department of Education at all levels. Nationally WEP is managed by a programme leader and at regional level it is managed by regional co-ordinators. Service providers are responsible for the capacity building of educators.

From 1997 to date 10 000 teachers (teaching grades 5 to 9) from 10 000 schools have been capacitated.

KEY OBJECTIVES

• Incorporate environmental education (of which water is a component) into the formal curriculum
• Develop appropriate resource materials which promote integrated environmental management
• Capacitate education and other relevant practitioners to be able to do water activities
• Participate and support the initiatives of integrated school environmental management policy which focuses on healthy and sustainable use of resources
• Establish an international network
• Participate in the development and empowerment of our communities through positive use of our natural resources

PROGRAMME APPROACH

The programme has adopted a skills and knowledge transfer and active learning approach. Educators are capacitated on water related issues through workshops in collaboration with the Department of Education. They will transfer knowledge to learners through implementation of water projects in schools.

PROGRAMME COMPONENTS

Learners undertake water-related research projects / activities such as:

• Water quality studies - where learners test the quality of water (using water testing kits) to see if it is healthy for consumption. If it is not fit for consumption, they inform the nearest local authority
• Plant studies
• Water quantity studies - learners determine the amount of water used, identify areas of excessive water usage and make decisions on corrective measures. This teaches them efficient ways of using water that will save water and money for their school
• Wetlands monitoring
• Competitions and awards

ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• Formed collaborative partnerships with various stakeholders nationally and internationally such as the Departments of Education, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Health, NGO's and water institutions
• Facilitated integration of water education into the formal school curriculum
• Created awareness about water conservation and other water related issues to approximately 5000 schools
• Water consumption in some schools has decreased and they have saved money on water bills
• Opportunity for learners to interact with others national and international through competitions
• Exposed learners to water research related projects
• Provide schools with educational materials related to water
• Increased awareness and enhanced interest of learners in water related careers
• Contributed to sustainable living

CASE STUDIES

1. Awards

WEP encourages learners to do projects that will improve the living standards of their communities. DWAF, in partnership with Old Mutual have awarded the following schools:

• 1999: Gwabeni Primary School in Peddie, Eastern Cape won an award of R10 000 sponsored by Old Mutual.
• After completing a water quality audit they sensitised the community about water problems. The money was used to buy water tanks for their school and community.
• 2000: Alpha Primary School in De Aar, Northern Cape won R10 000.

After conducting a water quantity audit they started a vegetable garden project with the purpose of helping the poorest of the poor from the community.

2. South African Youth Water prize Competition

DWAF in collaboration with the Stockholm Water Foundation in Sweden is running a national competition called the South African Youth Water Prize (SAYWP). The competition aims to encourage the youth to:

• Participate and contribute to the development of integrated water resource management
• Provide the opportunity for learners to use innovative ideas and methods to solve water related problems through practical projects in the field of science, technology and applied research
• Present South Africa's concerns and achievements regarding water resources and environmental management nationally and internationally
• Stimulate interest of the youth in water and environment careers
• National winner represents South Africa at the annual Stockholm Junior Water Prize.

  1999: Three learners from the 52nd Boy Scouts from KwaZulu-Natal won the SAYWP competition.

  The three scouts designed a low cost solar pasturing plant that could be used in the rural areas and informal settlements KwaZulu-Natal.

  2000: Three learners from the Good Hope College in Khayelitsha, Western Cape.

  They undertook a community-based awareness project in Khayelitsha.

  2001: Lorain-Marie le Grange of Voortrekker High School in Bethlehem, Free State.

  She did a research project assessing consequences of artificial higher water flow in the As River ecosystem of the Saulspoort Dam.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Nomxolisi Matyana
Tel: 012 336 7273
E-mail: qto@dwaf.gov.za