Gregory McPherson examines the functioning of school governing bodies in four schools In 1997 School Governing Bodies (SGBs) were elected at all public schools and in secondary public schools Learner Representative Councils (LRCs) were formed. SGBs comprise elected representatives of parents, educators, non-educators and, in secondary schools, learners and the principal, with parents always holding […]
Teacher training colleges are to be incorporated into the tertiary system The incorporation of teacher training colleges into the tertiary system is aimed at addressing the poor quality of education in South Africa. The teaching system has been affected by rationalisation, plagued by uncertainty over redeployments and demoralised at the flight of educator’s abroad. Minister […]
Heather Bensch, an English teacher at Grosvenor Girls’ High in Durban, finds OBE-speak confusing ANC, PAYE, UIF, APEC, Sadtu, DP, WWW … South Africans are getting pretty au fait with juggling acronyms about, but for high school teachers, 2001 is a whole new BG (Ball Game)! As our first group of outcomes-based education (OBE) learners […]
During February I was able to visit some primary school classrooms in the rural North to see how outcomes-based education (OBE) was being implemented in grade 4 and grade 7. What I discovered was instructive and provides some clear pointers for policy makers. I spent some time observing and team-teaching a grade 4 Human, Social, […]
Libby Young finds that the Internet can be prehistoric The Sterkfontein archaeological treasure trove was named one of three world heritage sites in South Africa in 2000, along with finds at Swartkrans, Kromdraai and environs. These fossil hominid sites are complemented by online web sites that provide plenty of educational material on our country’s place […]
Sean O’Connor finds that sport is virtually dead in many schools yet it teaches vital skills Ganief Millward is a primary school teacher in Manenberg, Cape Town. He recites a familiar list of his community’s problems with heartfelt sadness in his eyes. Then the sadness disappears and a smile almost happens. There is a simple […]
The Minister of Education, Professor Kader Asmal, has expressed concern over the comments made by a group of four teachers to an evaluation panel in Gauteng about Nadime Gordimer’s book, July’s People, as well as books by a number of other authors. Asmal said the comments were ill informed, pedagogically unsound and smacked of anti-intellectualism. […]
Mbuyisi Mgibisa finds that converted buses may be tomorrow’s classrooms for Eastern Cape rural schools Deep in the rural area of Transkei, 35 kilometres from Umtata, Vukani Senior Primary School still experiences a shortage of textbooks and furniture as well as the need to renovate classrooms. School principal, Mavis Nomvuyo Ngxambula says the school received […]
MTN is confident that its efforts to stimulate interest in maths and science among school pupils in South Africa would help turn the tide We believe the ScienCentre (in Cape Town) will inspire more young people to go into the technological field in the future,” said MTN Group Executive Sales and Marketing, Rob Reynolds. He […]
Education Minister Kader Asmal, who studied at Springfield Teacher’s Training College in Durban, reflects on his days as a teacher What are your impressions of teaching in your days at school? In my days the “spit factor” was the only teaching aid of note (putting spit on the finger to turn the textbook pages). What […]