The African > Education

A more structured lens needed to evaluate VCs ‘runaway train’ salaries

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 07:00:00 GMT

University of Johannesburg’s former vice-chancellor and principal, Professor Ihron Rensburg – who has overseen an amalgamation of three institutions, then passed the baton to Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, who in turn successfully handed over the reins to Professor Letlhokwa George Mpedi – can take pride in UJ being among the finest universities on the Continent, the writer says.

Technical and vocational education – catalyst for sustainable development

Tue, 28 May 2024 10:45:00 GMT

Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, during the launch of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Skills Development project in collaboration with accredited training centres including TVET Colleges at Tshwane University of Technology, Ditsela Place, Hatfield. – Picture: Jacques Naude / Independent Newspapers / May 2, 2024 By Buti Manamela, Busani Ngcaweni and Mashupye H MaserumuleInvesting in technical and vocational education and training is not just pivotal, it is t. . .

Africa Day 2024: ‘To build a country, build a schoolhouse’

Thu, 23 May 2024 06:00:00 GMT

Huguenot Primary School teachers Kulsum Nel and Charmaine Botha with Grade Rs make do with what they have after winter storms leave Tafelsig pupils without their prefab classroom built 12 years before, cramming 65 young children into the staffroom for lessons. Despite difficulties, there have been some laudable achievements in education in Africa over the past few decades.

Firing NSFAS board is papering over the cracks

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 06:00:00 GMT

National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) CEO Andile Nongogo was fired in October 2023 amid a R47-billion payments scandal, yet no action has yet been taken against him, the writer says. – Picture: ANABy Edwin NaiduThe troubles of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which was established to provide deserving students with financial support, need an intervention greater than the blunt solutions offered by Dr Blade Nzimande, the minister of higher education, science and innovati. . .

Literacy for liberation: Zambia’s Socialist Party fights illiteracy

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 06:15:00 GMT

Over 350 people, majority women, graduated from the Second Phase of the Fred M’membe Literacy and Agroecology Campaign Programme. Since 2021, over 4,000 people in rural and urban areas have become literate in Zambia’s official language, English, as a result of the Socialist Party’s programme. Picture: Socialist Party of Zambia / FacebookBy Tanupriya SinghOn March 21, over 350 people, the majority of whom were women, graduated from the Second Phase of the Fred M’membe Literacy and Agroecology Ca. . .

Long road ahead for higher education transformation

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 06:00:00 GMT

The University of Cape Town honours students at a summer graduation ceremony outside Sarah Baartman Hall on its upper campus. While there has been much progress in transforming tertiary institutions post-apartheid, the writer questions whether it is happening ‘in a manner that reflects diversity underpinned by the human rights principles enshrined in the Constitution’.

Proposal to prosecute parents for children’s absenteeism slammed

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Picture: Courtney Africa – Children have lunch at Sentinel Primary, Hout Bay, Cape Town. The Grade R class children are at school from 8am to 1pm, where they are ensured a meal and receive the education skills to prepare for Grade 1. While Equal Education and the Equal Education Law Centre have welcomed the introduction of compulsory Grade R at schools, they object to punishing parents for children’s non-attendance, the writer says.

What happens to learners when they are left in the lurch by the organisation meant to help them?

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 06:00:00 GMT

Picture: Supplied / ANA – Scores of students are being denied the opportunity to work in the sector dealing with long-term insurance, short-term insurance, life insurance, insurance and pension funding, risk management, unit trusts, administration of health insurance, funeral insurance, reinsurance, and ancillary and intermediary services because the Inseta has failed to issue their certificates, with some waiting since 2020.

The country’s leaders need to set an example

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 06:30:00 GMT

Picture: Picture: Oupa Mokoena / African News Agency (ANA) / Taken September 19, 2023 – Buti Manamela, the deputy minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and Blade Nzimande, the minister of Higher Education Science and Innovation, brief members of the media on developments at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in September last year.

NSFAS needs a reset to align with developmental priorities

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 06:15:00 GMT

Picture: Armand Hough / African News Agency (ANA) / Taken on August 16, 2023 – Students gather at Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town, South Africa, before they march to Parliament to oppose direct payments from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. The failure of NSFAS to address the backlog of 2023 and its inability to avoid delayed disbursements for 2024 will polarise the terrain and may lead to student protests which, as always, will negatively affect the process of le. . .

Austerity measures will impact higher education options

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 06:00:00 GMT

Picture: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers / Taken on October 30, 2023 – Grade 12 learners sit for their first paper, English additional language at Sea Point High School. Matriculants who opt to work rather than further their studies may find it hard because basic education does not provide the skills to make a meaningful contribution in the mainstream economy, the writer says.

Ongoing leadership woes derails NSFAS path to self-renewal

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 06:00:00 GMT

Picture: ANA file – Since its inception, the NSFAS has assisted hundreds of thousands of poor and middle-class students to gain access to higher education institutions. By Hendrick MakanetaOne of the greatest achievements of the post-colonial state in South Africa was the establishment of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

Mitigating school suicides requires collaboration

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 11:30:00 GMT

Picture: Oupa Mokoena/African News Agency (ANA)/Dated February 12, 2013 – Many experts and institutions, such as the World Health Organisation, agree that suicide is more prevalent among young people. Schools should have support programmes in which parents, teachers and social support services work with pupils to address the issue of suicide with children, who are unable to cope with the challenges of life, the writer says.

Decades of austerity leave school and hospital buildings crumbling in the UK

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 02:30:00 GMT

Picture: Tolga Akment/EPA-EFE/Taken on November 21, 2022 – Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who ‘faced criticism when he was the Chancellor of the Exchequer for refusing to release sufficient funds to the Department for Education to rebuild the around 300-400 RAAC-affected schools’ the writer says.

As affirmative action dies, how can fairness thrive?

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 02:00:00 GMT

Picture: Robert Galbraith/REUTERS/Taken on May 16, 2009 – US First Lady Michelle Obama talks with graduating students prior to during her address to the first four-year graduating class at the University of California Merced in Merced, California. Students suffering the most are not those who would’ve, could’ve, should’ve gone to Harvard, but because affirmative action died, will have to “settle” for Boston University.

Resolving schools’ overcrowding require innovative solutions

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 09:34:00 GMT

Picture: Henk Kruger / Africa News Agency (ANA) - The challenge of over-crowding in public schools is worse than we can imagine because of the distinct categories of schools, writes the author. By Hendrick Makaneta Basic education continues to experience challenges South Africa has approximately 15million pupils and 80% of them are found in public schools.

Sign language: It’s official

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 02:30:00 GMT

Picture: Shelley Kjonstad/African News Agency (ANA)/taken January 10, 2023 – Thembi Ngcungama, Lindelihle Mkhize, Sibongile Shandu and Busi Nxumalo from the Blind and Deaf society who all work in the sewing room, show the sign for love. South Africa now becomes the first country in the world to recognise its national sign language as an official language in the country’s constitution, the writer says.

Biden and Congress must act to restore affirmative action

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 02:00:00 GMT

Picture: Jim Young/REUTERS/Taken on May 26, 2009 – From left, former vice president Joe Biden (now president) speaks to Judge Sonia Sotomayor as she steps up to speak after then US President Barack Obama announced her as his choice of nomination for the Supreme Court justice. The Supreme Court recently has taken a decision to strike down race-based admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina.

Eshowe follow-up youth social cohesion dialogue

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 03:00:00 GMT

Picture: Aphile-amanzima Mazibuko/ACCORD – The event which took place on June 6 and 7, 2023, focused on strengthening dialogue amongst the youth, in order to assist them to build strategies, whilst promoting their roles in conflict prevention and in building a social cohesion in their community, the writer says.

‘Academic freedom and institutional autonomy not a cover up’

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 03:45:00 GMT

Picture: Armand Hough / African News Agency (ANA) / Taken on September 25, 2018 – University of Free State Vice-chancellor, Professor Francis Petersen speaks to the Cape Argus on the challenges higher education faces. The concept of institutional autonomy allows universities to define their own academic programmes, curricula, and admission criteria, the writer says.

Education in South Africa yet to graduate from apartheid logic

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 05:30:00 GMT

Picture: African News Agency (ANA) Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has briefed the media this weekend after the recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) show how scholars in South Africa have come last in a reading ability study of 50 countries. By Kim Heller“Why should that apple always descend perpendicularly to the ground, thought he to himself…?” as the apple fell down from the tree in the orchard on his father’s farm.

BRICS bridges gap with solid foundation in education

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 03:00:00 GMT

Picture: David Ritchie/African News Agency/ANA/Taken July 10, 2018 – Ministers from the education ministries in BRICS countries seated left to right are Zhu Zhiwen, the People's Republic of China; Naledi Pandor, South Africa; Pavel Zenkovich, the Russian Federation; Satyapal Singh, India; and Leandro Cardoso, Brazil.

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#Youth Day: ‘Nothing for us without us’

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 10:15:00 GMT

Unemployment crises amongst youth

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Modernise education system to equip the youth

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 06:00:00 GMT

By Hendrick Makaneta

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Africa’s education level increase remarkable, expert says

Tue, 09 May 2023 02:00:00 GMT

Picture: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency ( ANA )/Taken April 19, 2023 – Cape Peninsula University of Technology students in the Informatics and Design Faculty graduated today. A number of PHD from this faculty, some who graduated summa cum laude, were on stage to be honoured by the Vice Chancellor Chris Nhlapho.

Conditional grants to improve infrastructure in schools

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 02:30:00 GMT

Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu (ANA Files) – A court battle ensued for safe toilets in Limpopo schools following the 2014 tragic death of learner Michael Komape in a pit latrine. By Abel SemosaHistorically, in black communities, the school infrastructure was not given attention because black people were excluded from everything by the Apartheid government under the Bantu Education system.

Removal of Phakeng undermines tertiary sector transformation gains

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 02:30:00 GMT

Picture: Tracey Adams/African News Agency (ANA) – UCT’s former vice-chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng. Is Phakeng the (Professor William Malegapuru) Makgoba of her time? Will she bounce back, like the man who brought transformation out into the open with such vigour? asks the writer. By Edwin NaiduThe vilification of Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, until she was hounded out of office on 3 March, has pegged back the transformation gains witnessed by South Africa’s tertiary sector.

Higher education in South Africa still for a select few

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 02:30:00 GMT

Picture: Ayanda Ndamane / African News Agency (ANA) / taken March 7, 2023 – CPUT hosts its very first Gender-based Violence Research Indaba, looking at GBV at institutions of higher learning. Higher Education, Science and Innovation deputy minister Buti Manamela gives the keynote address. By Jabulani Sibande and Anthony KaziboniTo redress past injustices, colonialism and apartheid, the newly established democratic South African state listed access to education as a constitutional right.

Youth hailed as the architects of new Africa – but will they get a chance to lead?

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 02:30:00 GMT

Picture: Rusana Philander/African News Agency (ANA) Files – Romano Louw, 18, from Mitchells Plain, speaks at the Nelson Mandela Youth Dialogue about violence in his community. President Cyril Ramaphosa has reminded the youth that Mandela saw young people as the builders of a better Africa and world, the writer says.

Doors of learning remain shut for rural learners in South Africa

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 05:45:00 GMT

Graphic: Timothy Alexander / African News Agency (ANA)By Professor Bheki Mngomezulu On 25 and 26 June 1955, the ANC convened a meeting of the Congress of the People (C. O. P) in Kliptown, Soweto, in Johannesburg. It was at this meeting where the delegates unanimously adopted the Freedom Charter, a document which had been agreed to in principle in 1953 after having been initiated by ZK Mathews.

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