When is a stone not just a stone? When it is a weapon, an historical relic – or an ornament for sale. Creative ways of seeing things is one of the learning objectives of the Business Ventures (BV) programme. Taking business theory off the pages of dusty books and into life experience is doing it for teachers and learners alike.

It’s a matter of official record: matric exams are becoming easier. This was confirmed last week by Peliwe Lolwane, CEO of Umalusi, the independent body tasked with certifying the matric exams. A report released on September 21 on Umalusi’s research into standards of the matric exams stated that ”higher pass rates are not a sign of examinations becoming easier”.

Girl learners as young as 12 are being injected with contraceptives at schools by nurses from the North West department of health — sometimes without their parents’ consent. The Child Care Act states that no medicine may be administered to any child under the age of 14 without a parent’s informed consent.

Instead of spending her twilight years in armchair cogitation, octogenarian Anna Gomba has taken up the spade and wheelbarrow. As part of the Mamelodi Greening Committee, Gomba leads a group of 36 volunteer pensioners who work in the Pretoria township’s flourishing food garden

Increasing numbers of voters are supporting independent candidates. If results of by-elections since are anything to go by, support is growing for independent candidates in some areas, showing disenchantment with traditional party politics.

MINISTER of Education Kader Asmal this week slammed the Eastern Cape education authorities, saying officials who failed to deliver basic education services should quit or face disciplinary action.

Former squatter-camp residents are trying to rebuild their lives after being relocated three months ago