Thabo Mohlala
Guest Author
No image available
/ 28 February 2007

Mother-tongue technology

Microsoft South Africa (MSA), a global software leader, has introduced a pioneering language programme that will give a massive boost to initiatives aimed at pro­moting multilingualism in South Africa. The programme, called the Language Interface Pack, will initially be available in Afrikaans, isiZulu and Setswana and may be accessed through Microsoft’s latest version of Office 2007.

No image available
/ 13 February 2007

Fly-by-nights still flying

The days of bogus private further education and training colleges operating without meeting the necessary legal requirements are numbered, according to the department of education. This is a development that most parents and stakeholders in education would applaud.

No image available
/ 13 February 2007

Therapy through art

Teaching in South Africa has become one of the more challenging professions. Teachers do not only have to deal with a complex curriculum but also with a host of non-academic problems, including hungry, abused, sick, ill-disciplined, orphaned and abandoned learners.

No image available
/ 16 January 2007

Developing SA’s youth

A Cape Town-based NGO, Gold Peer Education Development Agency, has designed a programme for the youth to educate their peers on how to prevent further spreading of HIV/Aids. This saw the agency winning the first prize of the inaugural Commonwealth Good Practice Awards — held in Cape Town late last year.

No image available
/ 16 January 2007

Commonwealth challenges

Education Minister Naledi Pandor enjoyed the honour of hosting the 16th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers held in Cape Town in December last year. This triennial gathering brings together education ministers from the 53 Commonwealth member states.

No image available
/ 16 January 2007

‘Efforts must be intensified’

The decline of the 2006 matric pass rate by 1,7% indicates that “we are not yet as competent as we should be at achieving better outcomes”, said Education Minister Naledi Pandor. Pandor was speaking at the announcement of the 2006 Senior Certificate Examination results in which the overall pass rate dropped to 66,6%.

No image available
/ 3 January 2007

Promoting the arts

Perky youngsters turned playwrights, directors and actors charmed their audiences as they participated recently in the annual festival of Creative Voices (CV), an integrated arts project. Nine groups from Gauteng took part in the event, which sought to explore various social themes. Mayibuye Primary Schools musical, titled <i>Fathers Are Not Good With Money</i>, and <i>Making Peace</i> by Khayelihle Primary School stood out.

No image available
/ 3 January 2007

The O school

Oprah Winfrey, the American "queen of television talk shows" and philanthropist, opened her prestigious girls-only school on January 2 2007 as a fulfilment of the promise she made to her hero, former president Nelson Mandela in December 2000. Mandela was the guest of honour.