Sustainability website / Case Studies 2007 / Xstrata copper / Teacher training initiatives in South America

Teacher training initiatives in South America

These initiatives have been integrated into the social involvement programmes developed by Minera Alumbrera, the North Chile Division and Xstrata Copper Chile and focus on enhancing the socio-economic capacity of the local communities.

Many of Xstrata Copper’s South American mines are located in remote areas where the mine represents one of the only employment opportunities. The Alumbrera mine in Argentina and the mining operations across Chile are working to improve education in their local communities to enhance the social, economic and cultural position of local and indigenous people and to help to avoid dependency on Xstrata’s operations. Improving community education and training enhances the ability of local people to access employment at Xstrata’s operations and alternative opportunities to generate income.

Minera Alumbrera undertook a study to assess the key community concerns associated with the quality of education available. Based on the needs identified, the operation is funding an education improvement programme, developed and implemented by Universidad Nacional de General San Martín in partnership with the Andalgalá municipal authorities. The programme involves teacher training sessions for local teachers on three key areas: reading and writing skills for primary school students; state-of-the-art technologies for primary and secondary school students; and educational management and leadership for school principals. Training sessions started during the second half of 2006 and, due to the success of the programme, continued into 2007.

To date, 370 teachers have taken part in this initiative and feedback on the programme contents, methods and reference material has been positive. Attendance levels are high, as is the quality of papers written by teachers. Following the training courses, the teachers have begun to change their daily work practices. The initiative is being launched and implemented at two further departments, both in the province of Catamarca where Alumbrera mine is located.

In Chile, Xstrata Copper launched two initiatives in 2007 to enhance education programmes in the poorest areas. The first was in response to national statistics on education and poverty, which identified lower levels of education and resources in the poorest areas of Antofagasta. Xstrata’s North Chile Division, Chile’s Ministry of Education and the local municipalities agreed to jointly roll out a Lectura, Escritura y Matemáticas (reading, writing and mathematics) course in this region. The programme began by supporting 11 of Antofagasta’s most socially vulnerable municipal schools, through developing good management and teaching practices. It is based on a strategic alliance between private enterprise and the public school system and will run for four years. The schools receive training in language and mathematics, additional teaching material and consultant teachers.

While the programme is still in its early stages, the initial impact has been positive. Other schools in the region of Antofagasta have subsequently requested to participate and the programme has now been extended to a total of four cities and 18 schools. The Chilean Government has identified this initiative as a leading example of social commitment and strategic alliances between government and private enterprise.

In a second initiative, Xstrata Copper Chile is providing teachers of English in Chilean educational establishments the opportunity of a professional placement at one of Xstrata Copper's global operations where training is directed and led by tutors designated by Xstrata Copper. The aim is to provide an enriching professional experience and cultural exchange for the teachers, through exposure to good management practices and the use of English in a business organisation. After four months, the teachers return home and present a health, safety, environment and community project that will be applied at their respective school to convey new ideas, skills and abilities to their students.

Xstrata Copper started this programme in April 2007 with the placement of two Chilean teachers at its mining operations in Mount Isa, Australia. On their return, the teachers implemented successful HSEC programmes in their respective schools. The project continues and in 2008 two further teachers will be placed at Xstrata Copper’s operations.

Alberto Olivero, Xstrata Copper's Executive for Human Resources said: “We believe that our commitment to community education and the undertaking of joint initiatives like this make an important contribution to improving employment opportunities for communities associated with our operations, which are a key source of human capital for our organisation.”