Bheki Khumalo responds to Tleane’s Console’s article ”Asmal’s fading star” which appeared in the November issue of The Teacher It is time to put a halt to Console Tleane’s pejorative and politically-inspired broadside on the Minister of Education, Professor Kader Asmal. Tleane sang the minister’s praises when he was appointed; now he lectures us on […]
There’s a new second in command in the education ministry. Julia Grey spoke to Mosibudi Mangena about himself and what he thinks is needed in our education system Mosibudi Mangena is determined to remain close to his roots and champion things African. A look at Mangena’s background speaks volumes about why he identifies so closely […]
Pieter Dirk Uys is taking a message of safer sex to schools across the country. Hilary Fine took in a performance Oak avenues and abundant greenery surround a school with a long tradition of politeness, where learners still refer to their educators as ”madam”. These girls seem to have nothing to fear as they face […]
Roshilla Pillay reports on a disturbing orientation programme at a school in Springs, Johannesburg For the past 20 years, ontgroening (initiation) at Springs Hoërskool Hugenote took place in the following manner: The prefects march the grade 8 boys to the rugby field and asked them where their ”hugie” is. Pupils attending this school are known […]
When the past just won’t go away Vryburg Hoërskool’s new principal believes he can heal the divided school – but not everyone agrees. Julia Grey reports February this year marked the 110th birthday of Vryburg Hoërskool. It was also the month when 15 ex-learners and parents of white schoolgoers went on trial in the local […]
Jethro Kuzwayo finds that learners in Gauteng are set to join the information superhighway The Gauteng Department of Education has launched a multimillion-rand project to accelerate its existing programme so that all schools in the province will get at least two computers and access to the Internet. GautengOnline.com is a R500-million project which is due […]
When parents send their children to schools, they are putting them under the direct stewardship of the principal and his team of educators. Parents, many of whom have to run the home and also be breadwinners, expect their children to be in good hands while at school. Therefore, it is alarming to find that there […]
Helen Ivy Vilakazi, the three letter word, the hairy monster that kicks – call it what you will, HIV/Aids is a disease that none of us, even the most brilliant scientist, fully understands. And it is a disease that all of us fear. HIV is easy to prevent. If you are HIV+ it is important […]
Children with disabilities are treated as outcasts although the South African Schools Act states that all pupils must learn under one roof ‘I am 14 years old. I was born blind. I live with my mother here in Kwesine Hostel. I am going to school this year. I like school. I like the singing and […]
A group of Gauteng educators have deemed a number of school setwork texts outdated and not relevant to South African learners. Among them is South African Nobel Prize laureate and Booker Prize winner Nadine Gordimer’s novel July’s People, which has been part of the curriculum since 1994, has been called ”deeply racist, superior and patronising”. […]