{"id":78421,"date":"2025-06-04T08:32:58","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T06:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spu.ac.za\/?p=78421"},"modified":"2025-06-04T12:14:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T10:14:54","slug":"in-the-classroom-again-dr-mapuya-joins-national-teaching-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spu.ac.za\/index.php\/in-the-classroom-again-dr-mapuya-joins-national-teaching-project\/","title":{"rendered":"In the classroom again: Dr Mapuya joins national teaching project"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Dr Medson Mapuya, Lecturer in Accounting and Higher Education Studies in SPU\u2019s Faculty of Education, has joined a national initiative that places university professors back into school classrooms – contributing to both academic research and meaningful community development.<\/p>

As part of the Professors-Back(to)-School Project<\/span><\/a>, led by distinguished Professor Jonathan Jansen<\/a><\/span>, Dr Mapuya began teaching Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) to Grade 9 learners at Tshireleco Secondary School in Galeshewe in April. He will continue working with the school until the end of the year, engaging in both teaching and observational research.<\/p>

This initiative forms part of a national research study exploring whether today\u2019s university lecturers are preparing student teachers effectively for the demands of modern schooling -especially in schools that face structural and academic challenges.<\/p>

With over a decade of experience in teacher education, Dr Mapuya is contributing both as a researcher and as a community participant. His work at Tshireleco reflects SPU\u2019s focus on applied research that makes a difference in real-world settings in the Northern Cape.<\/p>

The project aligns closely with SPU\u2019s strategic focus on community engagement and strengthening its niche in education, where academics are encouraged to extend their impact beyond campus and engage directly with the environments they teach about. By teaching and collaborating on the ground, Dr Mapuya is helping shape a more responsive and practice-oriented model of teacher education.<\/p>

Dr Mapuya\u2019s involvement was followed a national call from Professor Jansen to universities across South Africa in mid-2024. Following an orientation at Stellenbosch University, Dr Mapuya approached the principal and Commerce HOD at Tshireleco Secondary, who welcomed the initiative and confirmed their interest in partnering with the University.<\/p>

\u201cI have always wanted to give back to the community in a meaningful way,\u201d he explains. \u201cThis project came at just the right time. It connects with my research, my values and my duty as a teacher educator to practise what I teach.\u201d<\/p>

Twice a week Dr Mapuya teaches full EMS periods using the Annual Teaching Plan provided by the Northern Cape Department of Education. His class – Grade 9E – is known for being one of the school\u2019s more challenging groups, made up of repeating and progressed learners.<\/p>

\u201cOn day one, the learners tested boundaries, but I stamped my authority early on,\u201d he shares. \u201cNow they whistle when I walk in. We\u2019ve built a really productive and positive learning environment.\u201d<\/p>

His return to the classroom also addresses a broader national concern: the declining enrolment in EMS and commerce subjects. Through this work, he contributes to both research and a practical intervention aimed at supporting learner development in high-priority areas.<\/p>

Reflecting on the broader value of the initiative, Dr Mapuya adds: \u201cProjects like this help us give back in a tangible way. They also strengthen SPU\u2019s visibility where it matters most – in our communities. The school will always associate our university with positive impact.\u201d<\/p>

A follow-up article reflecting on his full experience will be shared at the end of the year.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr Medson Mapuya, Lecturer in Accounting and Higher Education Studies in SPU\u2019s Faculty of Education, has joined a national initiative that places university professors back into school classrooms – contributing to both academic research and meaningful community development. As part Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":78431,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[56,4],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"coauthors":[185],"class_list":["post-78421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education-news","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nIn the classroom again: Dr Mapuya joins national teaching project - Sol Plaatje University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dr Medson Mapuya, Lecturer in Accounting and Higher Education Studies in SPU\u2019s Faculty of Education, has joined a\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spu.ac.za\/index.php\/in-the-classroom-again-dr-mapuya-joins-national-teaching-project\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"In the classroom again: Dr Mapuya joins national teaching project - 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