UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 23, Page 3
March 10, 1994
South African educator studying on campus

     Phanuel Mnguni is the sixth South African educator to come to the
University of Delaware as a fellow in the College of Education's Center for
Intercultural Teacher Education (CITE).
     Mnguni is outreach coordinator for St. Alban's College, an all-male,
Anglican high school in Pretoria. He is responsible for organizing a number
of tutoring programs for students and teachers in the townships of Mameladi
and Atteridgeville.
     In South Africa, children are taught in their own languages during
their first school years and then are taught in English. Mnguni has
organized an English proficiency program to help bridge the transition for
9 and 10 year-olds. He also has organized an after-school program in math.
He runs a similar program in Soweto near Johannesburg.
     Additional extra schooling programs are offered to 12th graders in
English, math and science.
     One problem, however, was a textbook shortage. In an innovative
solution, the local newspaper, The Pretoria News, agreed to publish the
lessons for the 12th graders. The teachers at St. Alban's developed the
lessons to help students in the township pass examinations in these areas.
     In addition, Mnguni has organized programs for teachers, such as "The
Five Ts--Teaching Teachers the Tricks and Tools of the Trade." He also has
arranged programs to help teachers obtain certification and become computer
literate.
     While at Delaware, Mnguni is taking a course in organization
management in education and meets each week with his adviser, Paula Ann
Kleine-Kract, assistant professor of educational development. He said he
also hopes to visit high schools, talk to teachers and observe classrooms.
He has an interest in bilingual education.
     Mnguni said he is looking forward to learning about American life and
also to warmer weather. Another adjustment is that "Americans drive on the
wrong side of the street," according to Mnguni.
     Mnguni's wife, Thandi, is a first- grade teacher. They have two sons,
13 and 8, and a 2-year-old daughter.
     Although pleased to be at the University this semester, Mnguni said he
has one regret. "This April is the first year ever that I am allowed to
vote, but I won't be there so I will miss it," he said.
     The initiative to bring South African educators to the University was
originally a joint effort of the University and the Episcopal Diocese of
Delaware. Al Roberson, associate treasurer, served on the University and
the diocesan committees to start the program and still is an active
participant, hosting the educators and helping them to get established on
campus. The University is the main sponsor of the program, but the Anglican
church in South Africa, which has responsibility for both St. Alban's and
St. Mark's College (the home base of some of the other South African
educators) contributes to the program by giving the educators paid leave to
come to Delaware.
     Directed by Victor Martuza, associate professor of educational
studies, CITE was officially inaugurated in 1990 with the goal of providing
leadership in the development of international and multicultural learning
opportunities for all education students.
                                                  -Sue Swyers Moncure