AS the world prepares to celebrate International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (Idada), drug lords from around the globe are asserting an increasingly stronger hold on South Africa. As far as the South African Narcotics Bureau (Sanab) Superintendent Andre Brits knows though, there will be no special local celebrations for Idada this year. […]

MELINDA FERGUSON interviewed Alex Hamlyn, head of substance abuse treatment and a drug counsellor at Houghton House HAMLYN defines addiction as an illness or disease, identified by a loss of control over the amount of drugs used. The individual’s continued use of the substance, despite negative consequences, further identifies the illness. ”The age of onset […]

MELINDA FERGUSON interviewed four teenagers, three of whom share their experiences of drug addiction, and all who share their attitudes to drugs, life and the future Tupak (16) A pupil at a technical college in Johannesburg, Tupak is a cool-looking dude who is ”addicted to everything”. He has dreadlocks and slouches around in somewhat dirty […]

There are many useful Internet sites devoted to professional development ALL over the world teachers are using the Internet to help each other, by posting lesson plans and advice totally free of charge. Here are some of the most popular websites dedicated to teaching and teachers. Aimed at primary school teachers, TeachNet is a treasure […]

Communication between schools and libraries is a massive stumbling block. ”GO get information from the library” is a phrase students commonly hear from their teachers. ”And that,” says Nohra Moerat, ”is usually the end of the story, as far as the teacher is concerned.” Moerat is a librarian who has recently been appointed media liaison […]

Important information gathering skills can be learnt outside school THE Valhalla Park public library near Elsies River in the Cape Flats serves an estimated 16 000 people. Like many libraries in disadvantaged areas, it is crammed with schoolchildren in the afternoons, ranging from the smallest grade ones to the largest and most threatening kind of […]

The safe schools program aims to reclaim schools from gangsters IN 1997, a standard 8 pupil named Howard McKenzie become the 20th victim of a bitter gang war in Gugulethu. Howard was shot dead at school, in his classroom. The school violence impacted heavily upon Eugene Daniels, circuit manager for Howard’s school at the time. […]

The Department of Education’s Values, Education and Democracy report looks at new ways of dealing with diversity at school level. THE release of the Values, Education and Democracy report by the Department of Education last month should trigger some interesting and long-overdue debate on the nation’s value system — or on what the nation’s priorities […]

Minister of Education Kader Asmal held a conference to assess the state of farm schools last month. IN an effort to find a solution to the problems of farm schools, Minister of Education Kader Asmal convened a national conference on farm schools in Midrand on May 13. ”The Schools Register of Needs survey conducted by […]

The National Literacy Initiative aims to teach 3,3-million people to read JOHN Samuel has been picked by Minister of Education Kader Asmal to be the commander-in-chief in the fight against illiteracy. Last year Asmal declared his intention to ”break the back of illiteracy” in the next five years. The education budget has made funds available […]