No image available
/ 10 May 2005

Behold the future

The future keeps coming at us, despite our best attempts, locally, to stay in some long-dead time warp where everyone behaves, worships the government and believes the media. So, this week we are looking at a combo of unexpected things as well as the usual "Behold the future!"-type items — along with a few yummily tasteless links, to appeal to the prurient interest.

No image available
/ 10 May 2005

Portraits in Africa 1948 – 1953

Hector Acebes’s black-and-white portraits were taken at a time when white ex-pats discouraged contact with black cultures. "I was there because I was fascinated by the Africans, so I spent most of my time with them, which annoyed the whites. But I didn’t care," he recalls.

No image available
/ 9 May 2005

Love doesn’t come cheap in Britain

Love doesn’t come cheap in Britain, where the typical date costs £200 (R2 290), according to a survey of some of the nation’s 8,6-million "singletons". On average, the single British man or woman goes out on a date five times a year, with the Welsh the keenest date hunters.

No image available
/ 9 May 2005

Which star signs drive the dirtiest cars?

Drivers born under the signs of Libra, Cancer, Pisces, Taurus and Capricorn are least likely to keep their cars clean, according to a survey that explores the astrological roots of motoring cleanliness. Those born under Aquarius, Aries, Scorpio and Leo wash their cars weekly, Sagittarius and Gemini every two weeks, and Virgo every month.

No image available
/ 9 May 2005

Sanlam, Remgro to sell stakes in Absa

Financial services group Sanlam has agreed to sell its stake in Absa to British banker Barclays. It has entered into a conditional irrevocable undertaking that it will dispose of at least 60% of its Absa shareholding to Barclays for R82,50 per share. Industrial holding giant Remgro has also committed to sell all or part of its 9,3% stake in Absa.

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

School paralysed by mob rule

Work has all but stopped at Vukuzenzele Combined School in Mpumalanga after parents and pupils chased 22 teachers away on Monday. DUMISANE LUBISI reports A SCHOOL near Volksrust in Mpumalanga has been paralysed since 22 teachers were chased away by a mob of parents and pupils on Monday, African Eye News Service reports. On Tuesday […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

General investigation only for Hoerskool Ben Viljoen

Human Rights Commissioners won’t investigate specific racial incidents at Mpumalanga’s controversial Hoerskool Ben Viljoen. SHARON HAMMOND reports THE SA Human Rights Commission will not investigate specific incidents of racism at Mpumalanga’s controversial Hoerskool Ben Viljoen, said commissioner Charlotte McClain. She said two commissioners and a legal officer would only probe general allegations of racism and […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

One country, one language?

Should English be the mother tongue of all South Africans? The language in education debate was high on the agenda when Minister of Education Kader Asmal addressed the International Literacy Conference in Cape Town last month. Asmal revealed that a study conducted by the Department of Education in Mpumalanga showed that in five out of […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Sithole fights back

Mpumalanga education head Faith Sithole prepares to file High Court interdict to fight her dismissal. JUSTIN ARENSTEIN reports OUSTED Mpumalanga education head Faith Sithole will file for an urgent High Court interdict to reverse her dismissal, her attorneys said on Wednesday. Sithole was fired from government “in the interests of learners and the general public” […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

UN praises refugee-friendly school

The future of history teaching came under sharp focus at the conference of the South African Society for History Teaching in Johannesburg One good turn deserves another! The saying proved true for Clareville Primary School in Durban, which has opened its doors to children of refugees. Last month the school received R90 000 from the […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Mpumalanga TV matric channel opens

A TV learning channel, aimed at improving matric resuilts, was launched in Mpumalanga on Thursday. LANDIWE DLAMINI reports A TELEVISION learning channel aimed at improving the dismal matric pass rate in Mpumalanga was launched by provincial education MEC Craig Padayachee in Middelburg on Thursday, African Eye News Service reports. Padayachee said more than 120 schools […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Doing uncommon things commonly well

Console Tleane visits Aha-Thuto Secondary, based in Orange Farm – a school defying the odds The indisputable observation made by education analysts is that schools from poor communities produce poor results. This is largely due to inhibiting factors such as lack of resources, lack of adequate training for teachers, and the sheer poverty of the […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Plea to help school after arson attack

Northern Province is appealing for help after an arson attack caused extensive damage at Mphuma High School. NOMSA SHONGWE reports THE education department in the Northern province is appealing for help for Mphuma High School, where arson last week caused damage of R250 000, African Eye News Service reports. Spokesman Rapule Matsane said the province […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

R3,5 m bridge to keep kids in school

A new bridge in Mpumalanga means that children will be able to attend school in all weather. NOMSA SHONGWE reports THE recent floods in Mpumalanga cut at least 1 200 children off from their school when a stream they can usually walk across flooded its banks. Children from Mandlesive High School live in Msogwaba tribal […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

HRC plays down stoning at race school

The Human Rights Commission down plays racial tensions at Mpumalanga’s Ben Viljoen High School despite a stone throwing incident between black and white students. SIZWE SAMAYENDE reports THE Human Rights Commission played down racial tensions at the troubled Ben Viljoen High School in Mpumalanga on Friday, even after white and black pupils threw stones at […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Stationery shortages in Mpumalanga

A proposed budget cut in Mpumalanga could leave schools around the province without basic school stationery and other learning materials. SHARON HAMMOND reports A PROPOSED R23-million budget cut to Mpumalanga’s already under-funded education department would result in shortages of basic school stationery and other learning materials, IDASA’s budget information service warned on Thursday. The cut […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Don’t remove old pupils from schools – SADTU

The South African Democratic Teachers Union warns against removing older learners from school, saying the move will entrench a disadvantaged class. SHARON HAMMOND reports BLACK pupils will still be seriously disadvantaged if the government proceeds with plans to remove children who are considered too old to be at school, the South African Democratic Teachers Union […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Disgruntled teachers threaten pickets

SELBY MAKGOTHO reports MORE than 1 500 unemployed teachers are threatening to disrupt classes and picket government offices in Bushbuckridge at the end of the month to force the Northern Province to hire them. They accuse the province of breaking a promise to employ them in special matric ‘finishing centres’. Some of the protestors were […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Pupils win international bursaries

Five black matric pupils from Mpumalanga have won bursaries to study either in Malaysia or at local universities. PHILLIP MOROBI reports MPUMALANGA’S top five black matric pupils won bursaries to study either in Malaysia or at local universities on Thursday, African Eye News Service reports. All five pupils hail from rural schools in some of […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Gunman demands fake school testimonial

Two news stories illustrate the abundance of guns in schools. DUMISANE LUBISI reports A YOUNG gunman tried to force a Northern Province principal to write a fake school testimonial for him on Monday. Police spokeswoman Inspector Mosima Serite said three males, aged between 17 and 21, were arrested at Makopi High School, near Burgersfort, after […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Letters – ‘Inappropriate tone’ of cartoon

The September edition of the Teacher carried a cartoon critical of the Catholic bishops’ stance on condom use in the prevention of HIV/Aids. The HIV/Aids pandemic is an important and controversial subject that needs widespread public debate. On behalf of the National Union of Educators (NUE), however, I wish to express my strong disapproval of […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Typist arrested in matric exam scandal ‘breakthrough’

JUSTIN ARENSTEIN reports POLICE arrested a 33-year-old senior education department typist on over 300 forgery charges on Wednesday in what is described as a “significant breakthrough” in Mpumalanga’s 1998 matric exam scandal. The arrest follows more than one-year of intensive forensic investigation into how officials fraudulently boosted the province’s average matric exam pass rate by […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

A human look at history

The future of history teaching came under sharp focus at the conference of the South African Society for History Teaching in Johannesburg The theme of the conference of the South African Society for History Teaching was on the future of history teaching in our schools. The tone was set by Rob Siebörger of the education […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Caning teacher faces internal inquiry

DUMISANE LUBISI reports A NORTHERN Province teacher who allegedly caned a 10-year-old boy so severely that he could not go to school for two weeks will be disciplined. Evans Folowela Makete, 34, a teacher at Motupakgomo Primary School in Bolobedu near Tzaneen, is also facing a criminal charge of assault with intent to do grievous […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

School Daze – Follow your heart

Eastern Mosaic presenter Candice Moodley recalls her convent school days Where did you go to school and study? I attended Parktown Convent until grade two and McCauley House Convent from standard one until matric. I have a BA LLB degree from the University of the Witwatersrand. Who was your favourite teacher? My favourite teacher was […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

School children not fed for 10 months

Bogged down by a procedural problems, the school feeding scheme isn’t reaching the children who need it most. DAVE LARSEN reports CHILDREN from Ngongolo Community Primary School press around the bakkie. Their eyes are vacant and few smile because it takes too much energy. The school is in the Guqa area of KwaZulu-Natal on the […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

A Day in My Life – He who laughs last

Mzie Peter Ngcume recalls an incident which turned horribly smelly One of the educators at our school in Khayelitsha was a funny little fellow. He was short, clean-shaven and walked with a slight limp. He had a peculiar nose, which was hooked a little to the side and would twitch from side to side. He […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Career File – Computer studies lecturer

Name: Sheryl Ming Occupation: .Computer studies lecturer Describe a typical workday. The day starts by replying to e-mails and meeting with staff members to obtain specifications for the website being designed. How do you start your day at work? A quick cup of tea and a chat with colleagues helps to get the day going. […]

No image available
/ 7 May 2005

Proud school’s 100% matric success

For the sixth year in a row the Northern Province’s Mbilwi Secondary School achieves a 100% matric pass rate. ALPHEUS SIEBANE reports THE proudest school in the Northern Province, Mbilwi Secondary, lived up to its reputation with a 100% matric pass rate last year – and 96,49% of students got exemptions. No other major government […]