Thabo Mohlala
Guest Author
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/ 11 March 2008

The mother of invention

Lack of proper learning aids and resources to teach sciences is a serious problem for most schools in township areas. Most schools in these areas do not have laboratories and those that do lack the apparatus to carry out experiments and other practical activities.

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/ 12 February 2008

Hope springs eternal

Bophelo Mogashoa is a two-year-old girl living with her parents, Boitumelo and Jabu Kubheka, in Diepkloof Zone Five in Soweto. She looks like any other child her age, but there is one significant difference: She is deaf and her parents discovered her condition only by chance.

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/ 11 January 2008

Schools’ (r)evolution

A clash between secular and religious conscience could unfold in South Africa’s education system — and different interest groups are set to line up against one another. The teaching of evolution to grade 12 learners from next year might trigger an uproar among South African parents, teachers and religious sectors.

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/ 11 January 2008

Setas to be cut down to size

The recent reported failure by sectoral education and training authorities (Setas) to spend millions of rands allocated to them to deliver skills development and training mandates has given fresh impetus to calls to reduce their number from 23 to five. Since their inception in 2000, the Setas have recorded few successes in addressing the skills weaknesses in the labour market.

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/ 10 January 2008

A second chance

If nothing else, the country’s matric results are a loud and painful reminder that the education system is in need of a major overhaul. Although analysts and educational practitioners differ about what is to be done, what is indisputable is that ways and means must be found to accommodate failure and success.

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/ 11 December 2007

A spelling revolution

Foundation-phase (grade R to three) learners and teachers can now benefit from a highly successful international initiative that partners primary schools and universities to promote the improved teaching and learning of English. On a local level it has been tailored to include all 11 South African languages through the use of free interactive software and a range of educational resources.