What?
A collaborative effort aimed at empowering Grade 8 and 9 teachers to teach entrepreneurship through PBL methods, allowing students to apply business concepts in real-world scenarios.
Who?
Future Nation College (FNC) and Marketplace Academy (MPA), funded by Investec.
Scope of 2024 Pilot:
Implemented at Katlehong Engineering School of Specialisation (KESOS) and Oosrand Commerce and Entrepreneurship School of Specialisation.
Rationale For The Project
Context and Need:
Entrepreneurship education in schools has the potential to tackle youth unemployment by equipping learners with job readiness and business skills. However, it is often limited to theoretical instruction.
Why Project-Based Learning (PBL)?
PBL supports critical thinking, collaboration and applied learning – key skills for the future workforce.
Investec’s Commitment:
This project aligns with Investec’s commitment to community development and promotes sustainable, impactful education by integrating practical entrepreneurial education in South African schools.
Key Project Objectives
Equip Teachers:
Train educators in PBL and entrepreneurial methodologies, providing the skills to guide students through applied entrepreneurship projects.
Engage Learners:
Implement hands-on, project-based challenges that enable students to apply entrepreneurship skills to real-life situations.
Promote Sustainability and Innovation:
Embed a mindset of sustainable business practices and innovation among students, with projects focusing on both profitability and community impact.
To pilot the DBE Curriculum Strengthening Programme
DBE has initiated a process of curriculum strengthening to develop skills. This will support sustainability of the Investec investment.
The Dbe Curriculum Strengthening Framework
DBE Curriculum Strengthening Framework Aligns To PBL
Project Implementation Summary
| Phase | Date | Details |
| Course Design & Development | August – November 2023 | Initial curriculum development for PBL and entrepreneurship integration, tailored to school needs. |
| Testing & Induction | October – December 2023 | Pilot testing of course materials and teacher induction sessions to gather feedback and make adjustments. |
| Curriculum Mapping | October – December 2023 | Alignment of the curriculum with Annual Teaching Plans (ATPs) to integrate PBL across subjects. |
| Teacher Training Rollout | January – September 2024 | Comprehensive training in PBL methodology, with an extended period to ensure thorough adoption. |
| Project Launch | April – May 2024 | Student-led projects initiated with driving questions, fostering practical, real-world learning. |
| Project Exhibitions | August – September 2024 | Culminating exhibitions at KESOS and Oosrand SOS, where students presented their entrepreneurial projects. |
Project Impact
Project Outcomes
Outcome 1: Enhanced Teacher Skills
Metric: Over 95% of participating teachers reported increased competency in using PBL and entrepreneurship principles.
Impact: Teachers can now deliver an integrated, engaging entrepreneurship curriculum, which has reshaped classroom dynamics and increased student participation.
Outcome 2: Improved Student Skills
Metrics: Survey ratings showed significant improvements: entrepreneurial skills (4.4/5) and problem-solving skills (4.3/5).
Real-World Projects: Examples of impactful student projects, such as “Green Our School” (environmental sustainability) and egg production (small-scale agribusiness).
Outcome 3: Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Exhibitions: Events where students showcased projects to community stakeholders, reinforcing the practical, real-world application of their skills.
Project Exhibitions – Highlights
The KESOS project exhibition was successfully held on 16 August 2026.
Grade 8 Driving Question: “How can we green our school?”
Grade 9 Driving Question: “How can we sell eggs profitably?”
The Oosrand SOS project exhibition was successfully held on 7 September 2024.
Grade 8 & 9 Driving Question: “How can we apply factors of production to empower and sustain the local economy?
Both exhibitions demonstrated:
- Interdisciplinary / subject integration and collaboration
- Validation of PBL approach in creating entrepreneurship in action
- Practical knowledge application
- Teacher and Leadership Development
KESOS Project Exhibition Highlights
Oosrand Project Exhibition Highlights
Lessons Learnt
Challenges Encountered:
Teacher Turnover: High turnover impacted continuity; addressed through extra training sessions.
Resistance to New Methods: Traditional teaching frameworks posed resistance; managed with change management strategies and leadership engagement.
Gender Imbalance: Observed a lower participation rate among male students, especially at Oosrand, highlighting a need for future projects to focus on inclusive participation.
Successes and Adjustments:
Curriculum mapping, change management and leadership buy-in proved essential.
Teacher and student adaptability strengthened over time, with marked improvements in skill application and teamwork.
Financial Overview
Budget Summary:
Total Budget: R1,500,000
Actual Expenditure: R2,019,589.01
Over-Expenditure Reasoning: Over budget due to additional costs for digital infrastructure, financial reporting, audit fees, and consulting fees.
Impact of Investment:
This financial investment allowed significant infrastructure improvements and increased project reach, demonstrating the value of thorough resource support for sustainable impact.
What Next?
Proven Impact on Skills Development:
The success in teacher upskilling and student entrepreneurship skill-building validates this project as a sustainable model for educational impact.
Scalable Model:
The structured approach and adaptability of the PBL framework make it easy to replicate across additional schools.
Alignment with National Goals:
Expansion aligns with national goals for entrepreneurship, sustainability, and job readiness, amplifying impact across South African schools.
Support the DBE Curriculum Strengthening Initiative
Support the GDE and other provinces that have commenced with PBL implementation.