WENDY MOTHATA |

THE North West Department of Education said all learners who were allegedly abducted from Tirelong Secondary School in Kroondal have returned to school.

“Tirelong learners have returned to school. In a meeting held last week, the parents have agreed that all learners should return to school,” said spokesperson Elias Malindi.

The department said the learners were allegedly abducted by unknowing people from schools. This is after learners at Tirelong School were transferred to Boons, Moedwil and Naauwpoort Mega Farm Schools after Tirelong Secondary school was vandalised during school holidays.

“The learners of Tirelong Secondary School were allegedly abducted from school by unknown people. About 54 learners from Naauwpoort Mega Farm School were allegedly forcefully removed and 162 learners were taken away from Boons Mega Farm School,’ Malindi.

The department invited the Tirelong Secondary School parents to a meeting. The purpose of the meeting was for parents to sign the commitment letters to allow learners to stay at the boarding schools.

According to the statement parents have agreed that ‘children should be allowed to go back to school, without any disturbance’.

Angy Moseki, the mother of Katlego and Phemelo who are both in Grade 8 at Boons Mega Farm School said she is emotional because people disturbed the studies of her children.

“I am totally emotional against those people who disturbed the studies of my children. We signed the consent forms with the department and some unknown people forcefully remove them without our permission. We want people behind these removals should face the full might of the law”, said Moseki.

The mother of Grade 11 learner, Mmaditshwanelo Paeea said the children must be allowed to go back to school. She further appealed to the government to protect the children at boarding schools,

“Let our children be allowed to go back to school. We are appealing to the government to protect our children. No one has a right to take away the education of our children. We want to thank the department for taking our children to a better learning environment”, said Paeea

The Provincial MEC for Education, Mmaphefo Matsemela assured parents that learners are safe at the boarding schools.

“I want to assure the parents of Tirelong Secondary School that as a department of education we will take care of the learners. In our boarding schools’ learners are getting the best care,” said Matsemela.

The MEC assured parents that going forward those who deny learners their right to education are brought to the book.

“Going forward, we will ensure that those people behind the denial of learners their right to education are brought to book. We have taken these learners to high performing schools. Naauwpoort Mega Farm School obtained 100% and Moedwil Mega Farm School obtained 85,2% in their matric examinations. I am confident that these learners will do exceptionally well in their final examinations”, said Matsemela.

The department said it is currently working on a plan to strengthen the safety and security of the affected boarding schools.

-Inside Education

WENDY MOTHATA |

THE High Court in Johannesburg has on Monday ordered the Gauteng Education Department to fix unsafe electrical equipment and vandalised infrastructure at Geluksdal Secondary School in Brakpan, Ekurhuleni.

Judge Fridah Senyatsi said the department must urgently replace unsafe electrical equipment and security at the school.

The Department has been given 15 days to fix the issues at the school.

“This means that Gauteng Department is ordered to resolve infrastructure problems at Geluksdal Secondary School urgently, so that learners are not endangered because of unsafe electrical equipment,” said Senyatsi.

This move comes after Section27 public law centre declared Geluksdal Secondary School unsafe.

A matric learner who was electrocuted at Geluksdal Secondary died tragically in January 2017.

 Section27 has been admitted as amicus curiae to fight for safe school infrastructure after the death of a learner from electrocution at school in Gauteng, “five years since the tragedy, the school is still unsafe.”

“Over five years since a matric learner tragically died at Geluksdal Secondary School in Gauteng after being electrocuted because electrical equipment was repeatedly stolen but not replaced by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), the infrastructure at the school remains a serious risk to learners’ rights and lives.”

“Between 2010 and 2017, Geluskdal suffered theft and vandalism of electrical safety equipment like circuit breakers, cables, distribution boxes and earth leakage at least three times. Despite being informed of the theft and vandalism, the district office and GDE did nothing.” Section27 said.

Judge Senyatsi said he is in agreement that a relief must be granted.

“I am in agreement 100% – there is a proper case in this case, the relief must be granted,” the Judge said.

Section27 said the judgment is a victory for learners at Geluksdal Secondary school.

-Inside Education

WENDY MOTHATA |

THE Democratic Alliance (DA) will on Thursday conduct an oversight inspection at Willowmoore High School in Benoni, Ekurhuleni.

The DA said that, Willowmoore High School is one of many schools across the province that are facing a serious challenge of a shortage of teachers.

“Willowmoore High School is one of many schools across the province that are facing a serious challenge of a shortage of teachers. A severe shortage of teachers in this school has resulted in a drastic drop in performance and matric pass rate”

The DA is set to engage with the School Governing Body (SGB).

“The DA is set to engage with the School Governing Body (SGB) to ascertain why there is a high rate of teacher vacancies and when these posts will be filled.”

The DA will further assess the state of the infrastructure and check whether there is sufficient learning equipment and materials at the school.

–Inside Education

THE Mozambican Ministry of Education on Monday threatened to hold criminally accountable any public school managers who prevent children from attending classes, because their parents have not yet paid the supplementary fees some schools charge to pay for security guards.

Addressing a Maputo press conference, the ministry’s spokesperson, Gina Guibunda, said there is nothing illegal about schools collecting money from parents to pay for security guards.

But such payments are entirely voluntary, and under no circumstances should they prevent children from attending classes.

“We want to make it clear that this attitude is totally reprehensible and has not been ordered by the ministry”, declared Guibunda. “This is the reason why we want to reaffirm that any school leader who prevents children from attending class due to lack of payment, will be punished for breaking the law,” .

The issue of parents’ financial support for schools, Guibunda added, has been enshrined in the law since a ministerial diploma of 2004.

The amount raised from parents should be used to improve school conditions and parents cannot be forced to pay it.

She said that schools should only start collecting the voluntary fees from March, after the School Councils, which are liaison bodies between school managments and parents to address matters of common concern, have been renewed or set up.

Guibunda also admitted the recently reported corruption scandal at the Education Service in the southern province of Inhambane, where episodes such as the sale of false certificates, the rigging of examination marks, and charging as much as 50,000 meticais (about 780 US dollars, at the current exchange rate) for entry into the Teachers Training Centre (IFP) are commonplace.

The spokesperson told reporters that investigations are under way to find the truth, but the ministry is aware of the fraud and as soon as the probe is completed those involved will be dealt with accordingly.

-Allafrica.com

WENDY MOTHATA |

ALTHOUGH many people have welcomed the return of full-time learning of learners, teachers’ organisations are calling the government to deal with the issue of overcrowded classrooms.

Learners across the country resumed with daily learning at various schools.

The move comes after Cabinet approved changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 COVID-19 regulations.

Cabinet decided to end rotational learning and remove social distancing measures.

The Department of Basic Education Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga visited some of the schools on Monday to check the state of readiness.

Mhlanga acknowledged that there are some challenges that schools are facing, and these include the issue of overcrowded classroom.

“We saw that some schools experienced high number of learners who have come through. And there is no space to accommodate them,”said Mhlanga.

The spokesperson said the department is making plans to accommodate all learners in making sure that they all learn on the same day.

“And now plans are being made to change the timetable to allow for a platinum timetable which will ensure that all the learners get to learn on the same day. But we also saw in other parts of the province (Gauteng) that there are some schools which did not have enough furniture so they are waiting. Some learners don’t have what they need to continue with education.”

Mhlanga said that the majority of schools were able to commence with learning.

“The majority of the schools have been able to commence with learning. We went to schools where teaching and learning is taking place and it’s all quiet and things are going on as normal. So, it’s not the same scenario everywhere, in some instances were planning did not happen as expected there still some challenges that needs to be sorted out but we have given them until this week to resolve all those outstanding issues.”

With all the challenges facing the schools, Western Cape Provincial Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer said that the Western Cape government is providing support to teachers and learners.

Schäfer acknowledged that some schools will be overcrowded, however, they will monitor those cases individually.

Meanwhile, the National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) has welcomed the DBE’s announcement to have learners attending daily.

“NAPTOSA welcomes the final decision by the minister Angie Motshekga that all learners must return to school today. As a union, we have been very vocal about learners returning to school this year,” said NAPTOSA’s Thirona Moodley.

However, the union’s Executive Director Basil Manuel said that Department of Basic Education must address the overcrowded classrooms.

“The return to normal learning has put old challenges back into sharp focus, including inadequate school infrastructure and overcrowding.”

South African Democratic Teachers Union’s (SADTU) Head of Secretariat, Xolani Fakude said that it welcomes the full-time teaching and learning at schools. The union said that poor infrastructure and overcrowded classrooms are still an issue in the education system.

“We are experiencing challenges which are pre-COVID and these challenges relates to poor infrastructure and overcrowded classrooms.

Bokamoso Secondary School in Seshego Zone 2, is one of the schools struggling with overcrowded classroom.”

School Principal, Titus Setlau said that full-time learning will help teachers to keep up with the curriculum as opposed to two years back when rotational learning was implemented.

“For us as teachers it helps to keep the curriculum going because if they all come to school it is easy for us to continue with the curriculum as it should. Unlike last year where we had to cut out some of the things due to rotational learning,” Setlau said.  

–Inside Education

IN a place where books are paramount, children don’t always find relatable characters.

Malachi Eddie, 12, has never had a Black teacher. He said he’s only seen one Black woman lead a classroom, and it wasn’t his. He told News 8 he believes it would be beneficial to have a Black teacher because it would give him someone to identify with.

“I would be able to relate to that teacher a lot more,” said Malachi Eddie, a student at City High Middle School. “They may even teach me stuff that might be more helpful than if other teachers taught me stuff, and that would be really cool.”

Data from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows Black students who have at least one Black teacher by third grade are 13% more likely to graduate from high school and 19% more likely to enroll in college than their Black peers who don’t have any Black teachers.

“It socializes children to an extent they don’t even realize,” said Eddie’s mom, Anissa.

She added that diversity in the classroom would benefit white students too.

“To have that in a teacher can disrupt stereotypes, can dispel myths and can really help them to have a personal reference point when they think about a whole cultural group,” said Anissa Eddie.

About 32% of students enrolled in Grand Rapids Public Schools are Black. Of the 1,022 teachers who work in the district, 6% are Black. Most of them work with elementary students.

Superintendent Leadriane Roby said she is working to recruit and retain more Black teachers, but it’s an uphill climb. 

A spokesperson for the district said that work is a part of the district’s Strategic Theme No. 5 of the new GRPS Strategic Plan, which focuses on talent retention and recruitment.

“From a societal standpoint, we have beat up on teachers, both literally and culturally, where it doesn’t always feel appealing,” said Roby. “We have some work to do in GRPS.”

Roby said low pay, a lack of respect and unpleasant memories as Black, grade-school students also discourage Black people from becoming educators.

“Black and brown students are more likely to be identified for special education or remedial supports, ” said Roby. “That sends a message, too, again, that’s not for me.”

Research shows one of the best ways to encourage and inspire Black children is to hire more Black male teachers. There are only 14 of them teaching in GRPS, compared to 49 Black women teaching in the district.

“When you have a male teacher of color, it’s like a unicorn,” said Roby.

Imagine if that character existed in Malachi Eddie’s story and how empowered he would feel seeing himself in his teacher.

“If they can do it, I can do it,” said Malachi Eddie.

Perhaps it could motivate him to become an educator, making grade school one of the best chapters of his life.

“I just think that would be really cool and really amazing to have a Black teacher,” said Malachi Eddie.

-WOODTV.com

VOICES FROM AFRICA Angela Tabiri, who researches quantum algebra at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Accra, was a PhD student at the University of Glasgow, UK, when she launched Femafricmaths in 2018.

The network shares the stories of African female mathematicians through video interviews posted on social media. The vision is to help young girls become confident in pursuing careers in mathematics and related fields. Tabiri’s profile is the third of eight in which African women share their science-career stories with Nature.

I graduated from the University of Ghana in Accra with a combined degree in economics and mathematics. One of my mentors told me about the opportunity to study for a master’s degree at AIMS, a network of centres of excellence across Africa, which had just opened a site in Accra.

That was a turning point for me. It was like being immersed in a 24-hour learning environment. They bring in renowned lecturers from around the world to live there and teach three-week intensive courses. It was tough, with assignments due every Saturday at midnight. But I liked doing the challenging bits. That training also helped me to acquire digital and presentation skills.

I decided to apply to the University of Glasgow for a PhD. But that meant that I needed funding. I applied for and won a Faculty for the Future fellowship from the Schlumberger Foundation, which provides funding for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from low-income countries to study at leading universities around the world. The foundation is looking for female leaders — you have to have academic excellence, but also show a commitment to promoting women in STEM in your home country.

In Glasgow, I really grew in terms of my skills and abilities. I also realized the power of social media to showcase and promote my research online. There is an audience out there looking for something beyond the ‘maths is difficult’ narrative.

I started the Femafricmaths initiative because I didn’t see many mathematicians that were people of colour, and particularly women — it’s not a narrative for most girls in Africa. Femafricmaths is a network of African female mathematicians who highlight their different career paths through social media and promote the study of maths at schools.

I returned to Ghana in 2019 and started a postdoctoral position at AIMS. Often, in the field of maths, you might be the only female in a workplace team and that means that you have to be a bit tough. When I was teaching, instead of ‘Doctor’ the students called me ‘Madame’. Colleagues made comments about me starting a family and said that I might never get married. There’s a cultural pressure of ‘What are you doing competing in the space of men? You should be in the kitchen.’

Women should find their voice. People will always find ways to bully you or look down on you. Whatever environment I’m in, I need to find my voice and speak up.

Once you know what you want to do, carve your own niche. I’m good at algebra, but I’m also good at science communication and helping girls to follow STEM studies. So I developed myself in those areas — there are so many things I bring to the table. Find your voice, develop your skills and then when people downplay your abilities on the basis of gender, let all your success speak for you.

One challenge in abstract maths research is staying motivated. I tell myself that my research will enable technology to be built 100 years from now. So I had better make sure my work is true and accurate, so that it can be picked up when needed. I also teach pure maths to people who want to become engineers and computer scientists. They need to be taught well.

Maths research is hard — you have to be patient and determined to keep coming back to the same problem and trying it in different ways. The answer might not come to you for years. But, when you finally have a discovery and something eventually works — I don’t even know how to describe that feeling.

-Nature.com

THE Department of Basic Education has gazetted updated lockdown restrictions for schools in South Africa following the government’s decision to end rotational timetables.

Under the regulations, all primary, secondary and special schools from both public and independent schools are to resume full-time attendance on Monday (7 February).
In addition, all teachers, non-teaching school staff, all learners, as well as all officials, should return to school and offices from this date.

Covid-19 rules
Taking into account the resumption of full-time schooling, the regulatory provision for one-meter social distancing in schools has been removed with immediate effect.
However, the following non-pharmaceutical measures should be maintained and adhered to by schools and education offices:
• Wearing of non-surgical face masks by all learners, teachers, non-teaching staff and visitors.
• Face mask breaks for learners (5 – 15 minutes for every 2 hours during the school day) where they can safely remove their masks in an outdoor area.
• Washing of hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using hand sanitisers.
• Placing 70% alcohol-based hand sanitisers in each classroom, at entrances and exits, and near lunchrooms as well as halls so that sanitising of hands should be done when entering and leaving these venues.
• Maintaining good ventilation by opening doors, windows and/or using fans for air circulation.
• School buildings and equipment must be cleaned thoroughly and regularly by following the environmental health cleaning and disinfection protocols. Household bleach is recommended for this purpose. No fogging and spraying of buildings as part of environment cleaning should be done. Instead, surfaces should be wiped with a wet cloth.

Isolating
Individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 and their contacts are no longer required to isolate.
Only people who have symptoms or are advised by a health care worker should isolate for not more than seven days after which the learner, teacher, school support staff or official should return to school/office.

Sports and other activities
The following activities may resume with spectators, subject to compliance with the hygiene and safety measures on Covid-19:
• All contact sport and non-contact sport, including training, intra-school and interschool games.
• All arts and culture intra-school and inter-school activities.
• All co-curricular and enrichment programmes.

Vaccinations
All teachers, non-teaching school staff and officials who were vaccinated using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in June/July 2021, are now eligible for a booster vaccination and are encouraged to visit their nearest health facility, pharmacy or vaccination site for this purpose.
Those who received the Pfizer double dose vaccine will qualify for the booster dose 6 months after the second dose.
All learners aged 12 – 17 years and older are also encouraged to vaccinate at their nearest vaccination sites. Parents are urged to take their children for vaccination or use the opportunity of vaccinating their children in schools when the opportunity to do so arises, the department said.
“The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is working with the Department of Health (DoH) to introduce an in-school vaccination programme, and an official announcement in this regard will be made in due course.

“Provinces are however allowed to introduce in-school vaccination in collaboration with their provincial departments of health. In-school vaccination will require parental consent in line with the procedures of the integrated school health policy,” it said.

-BusinessTech

Cricket

A second week of cricket weather on weekdays and water sports conditions on cricket days meant that 15 cricket fixtures against Clifton College and the golfing showdown between Michaelhouse and ‘Maritzburg College were washed out over the weekend.

Basketball 

Barrelled on in the indoor centre where Michaelhouse were in imperious form over visitors Clifton College, winning fifteen from fifteen including solid wins for the U16A (48-8), U15A (30-14), and U14A (26-7) sides. House’s U15C lads were in an especially competitive mood winning their clash 76-0.

The first three periods of the first team encounter were a pedestrian spectacle, with Michaelhouse only able to convert a mountain of possession into a molehill of points. Skipper Lucky Mabuza’s boys couldn’t miss in the final stanza though, nailing three pointers seemingly at will; and with mounting confidence, frustrating rebounds became crowd-inciting points. The scoreboard, no longer stuck in the mud, ticked over furiously until the final second for the home team’s 80-23 win.

Next door, in the aquatics centre, the spoils were being more equitably shared. Clifton dominated the open age group winning everything on offer going into the first team game. The much fancied visitors opened the scoring but were forced to content themselves with trading goals all the way through to midway into the third chukka.

The home team faithful were just starting to believe that the upset of the season might be on the cards when the sheer weight of class turned the tide. A late goal from Michaelhouse could do nothing to avert the final outcome, a 9-5 win for Clifton College.

The Michaelhouse age groups were able to stem the Clifton tide. Proving their pedigree, House’s U14A boys followed up the B side’s win with an 8-3 victory of their own; while a little later in the morning, the U15A (7-2) and B (8-5) lads were able to do the same.

Caoeing:

Michaelhouse’s canoeists revelled in the high water levels on Saturday paddling into second (Reuben Baldry) and fourth (Robert Butcher) in the U18 event of the Dash and Crash on the Upper Umgeni, which also doubled as the first race on the 2022 interschool race calendar. Aidan Furby crossed the line in first place with Louis Souchon in third in the U16 event while Jess Webber placed third in the U14 age group.

The following day Rob Butcher partnered Dom Furby into third place in the U18 race of the Campbell’s to Dusi Bridge event, while Rourke Murray and Stuart Neilson claimed first place with Louis Souchon and Aiden Furby just behind in second place in the U16 race.

-SAschoolsports.co.za

WENDY MOTHATA |

A 17-year-old King Edward VII School (KES) learner was stabbed to death outside the Madison Avenue nightclub in Wessel Highway, Sandton on Saturday night.

The Grade 11 KES learner, was allegedly stabbed by an 18-year-old boy who has since been arrested in connection with the murder of the learner.

According to ER24 spokesperson Ross Campbell, paramedics arrived on the scene along with private medical service at 22:45 to find the teenager lying on the street with a stab wound on his chest.

“ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene at 22:45 along with another private medical service to find the teenager lying in the street with a fatal stab wound to the chest,” Campbell said.

Campbell said the South African Police Services (SAPS) were on scene for further investigations.

“He, unfortunately, showed no signs of life and was declared dead on arrival. Security as well as the South Africa Police Service were on the scene for further investigations,” said Campbell.

The King Edward VII School said it is saddened by the passing of its learner.  The school said that the passing of the 17-year-old boy is tragic and senseless.

“It is with great sadness that King Edward VII School learned this morning of the tragic passing of our brother. The school and red community mourn this senseless loss of life; the Red Family will miss you dearly,” KES said in a statement.

“Our condolences, prayers and support go out to the entire family and many members of the Red Family. You will forever be a son of this place.”

Science Educator at KES, Mari-Louise van der Merwe, also the deceased teacher said the learner was incredible and his presence will in class be missed.

“Absolutely stricken with grief and sadness. He was an incredible kid, and teaching him for the past 4 years, was something I won’t forget. His presence will be missed in my class more than words can say,” said Van der Merwe.

Van der Merwe said the deceased brought laughter and indigenous knowledge to the classroom.

“This is without a doubt the worst part of my job. He, brought laughter, with and a profound amount of indigenous knowledge to my classroom. He was exceptional at reaching goals he set for himself, he was a wonderful friend and my classroom will be less because he is not there.”

Taking to Facebook, the Madison Avenue nightclub acknowledged the incident and the deceased was, was involved in a fight in the parking lot and that a security guard intervened.

 The Club said they believed the situation was contained.

“We then believed the situation was contained. Approximately 15 minutes later, reports that an individual arrived [he had not previously been in the venue] who [then] confronted him about 70m from our car park entrance.”

“What followed was an attack and the deceased was stabbed. Venue owner, security, police and emergency services were on scene to assist.”

“The suspect was detained and is now in police custody. Even though, the crime scene was a fair distance from the venue, multiple emergency vehicles and personnel were on the scene, and as it may seem insensitive, it was decided, not to close the venue, as this exit of people would make the difficult situation even worse.”

It added a knife was found on the deceased, which was removed.

“We have subsequently learned from a close friend of the deceased that he used a fake ID to gain entry to the venue earlier in the evening.

“While there is a suspect is in custody, this doesn’t take away from the tragic event of last night. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased’s family and friends whom we have spoken to already, offering our support, condolence and shared heartache,” the Madison club said.

The suspect is expected to appear at the Randburg Magistrates Court on Monday.

-Inside Education