Community Learning Space (CLS)

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A common African proverb, it takes the whole village to raise a child, implies that education occurs not only in schools but also within families, communities, and society. The concept of a village raising a child is probably more essential to developing the whole child today than it was a few generations ago. Improving the quality of education has remained undoubtedly a challenging task, one that requires schools, families, and communities, working collaboratively as a formidable trio, to address.

Today, when we consider the challenges confronting education, there are many compelling reasons why we cannot lose sight of the importance of community participation in schooling and education. 

The idea of equal educational opportunity is a longstanding theme of public policy particularly in South Africa, reflecting the importance that people attach to education both for individuals and society. Initial schooling is no longer a sufficient preparation for an ever-changing world; lifelong learning is now required.

The current era of “globalization” has increased the importance of investing in the education of the community, as both the public and private sectors struggle to learn how to think globally and act locally.

It is for this reason that the ZERi Africa NPC is bringing the Community Learning Space (CLS) to start this initiative to assist schools, parents and community groups who wish to improve education opportunities for the community children.

CLS is a partnership of schools, public or private agencies, and community groups, working in collaboration to develop, implement and evaluate activities to answer education, social development and community needs that will enhance learner success. We describe a CLS, as: “an integral part of the neighbourhood, a focal point in the community to which children and their parents could turn for a vast range of educational and social development supports and services.” ZERI Africa plans to do considerable work developing a community learning culture, which we call a caring and respectful learning environment, a culture that is grounded in the community education movement and is part of Schooling. Our focus is a tri mission to: 

- Educate children and youth—through responsive learning programs that enhance student outcomes,  

- Serve as a Space for social, health, recreation, culture, justice and other services for children, youth and their families,

- Engage parents and mobilise the community to participate in improving education outcomes.

We incorporate two complementary images of a CLS as a “learning community” and as a “Space” of community service. A learning community is “a group of people who take an active, reflective, collaborative, learning-oriented, and growth-promoting approach toward the mysteries, problems, and perplexities of teaching and learning. It thrives on individual and organizational learning by all members of the school community, continually reflecting not only about how things are done, but why.

The CLC as a ‘Space’ is the centre of a network of educational services such as those shown here. The Space provides the major locus of its educational activities or/and they might be delivered in various locations. In any case, the aim is to reduce, even eliminate, barriers between the Space and the community. 

- After-School Programs for Students and Educators, 

- Health & Social Services Family and

- Support Services Development. 

 What are the benefits?

Research on community education in the United States found that in general, community education centres provided four major benefits: 

- Improved student learning 

- Enhanced family engagement with students and schools more effective functioning of schools, and 

- Increased community vitality

No innovation such as a CLC will provide the same benefits in every community. However, a CLC can meet a wide range of expectations in different contexts, as suggested below.

Expectations Generally, a CLC can be expected to: 

- Provide access to the conditions deemed necessary for student success; 

- Respond to the particular culture and needs of the communities it serves; 

- Provide services that are accessible to the broader community;

- Deliver a range of services that are self-supporting and sustainable over time;

- Integrate existing services and resources with those available from external agencies;

- develop financial/resource partnerships that ensure long-term sustainability; 

- resonate within its community as a successful response to its needs and 

- demonstrate flexible and innovative approaches to service delivery.

Our work focuses on strengthening families, building stronger communities and ensuring access to educational opportunities, because children, youth and young adults need all three to succeed. We advance research and solutions to overcome the barriers to success, help communities demonstrate what works and influence decision-makers to invest in educational strategies based on solid evidence.