BY PAUL JUNOR
The African Heritage Program (AHP) has been an integral part of the Continuing Education Department of the Toronto District School for over twenty years. The new African Heritage Curriculum was launched at Rawlinson Community School, which is one of the schools where the AHP is offered. Other schools that parents and students can attend the AHP are: Driftwood Public School and Firgrove Public School.
In attendance at the launch was Karen Murray, System Superintendent for Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-oppression, International Languages who was the previous principal at the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement. Also present at the launch were: Grace Ocloo, Elementary & African Heritage Program officer, parents and students.
The African Heritage – Elementary 2022-2023 program is offered in-person and has several benefits for students. It connects students to the: contributions, histories, legacies, cultures and traditions of people of African descent through inquiry and experiential learning. The principle of Nguzo Saba (a Swahili word) is celebrated for seven days from December 24th – January 1st.
It is through student inquiry and classroom learning that four content areas are taught:
- Early Civilizations of Africa
- Celebrations and Traditions
- Achievements and Contributions
- Rights and Equality
Classes are held once a week, after regular day school, from Monday to Saturday. There are about 30 classes/week over the duration of the program, which runs from September 2022 to May 2023. Students do not have to enrol in TDSB’s schools to participate in AHP. All they need is their 9-digit Ontario Enrolment Number (OEN) that can be found on their school progress report. There is a $20 cost for materials upon registration. Parents, caregivers or guardians can download and complete the registration form on www.ileprograms.ca and if they want more information at website:ile_@tdsb.on.ca
“The curriculum is enquiry-based so that students can engage in so many different ways to express themselves, to share their lived experiences, to learn what it means to keep their legacies and their histories, and to also read about the achievements and contributions of people of African descent,” shared Grace Ocloo.
She is particularly pleased with the feedback that she has received from parents about the Afrocentric curriculum. She elaborates, “So far the African Heritage Program curriculum seems to be what they want for their children and they’re looking forward to the program being opened in more schools.
TDSB has been very intentional in sending information to all the principals, where we already have international languages’ programs, to try and create awareness that African Heritage is also a program in the Continuing Education Department.”
Karen Murray, System Superintendent of TDSB expressed her excitement about the curriculum content of the updated AHP. “There are a lot of identity-affirming books in this new revised curriculum.” She believes that students who are enrolled in AHP will “Feel they can see themselves in the curriculum” and “feel like they belong.”
