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

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

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

WENDY MOTHATA |

THE minister of Basic Education said on Sunday that she is confident the schools are ready for learners to
return to full-time learning from Monday.

Mosthekga was briefing the media on the state of readiness for the reopening of schools.
This is after the Cabinet approved changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 COVID-19 regulations last week.
The cabinet decided to end rotational learning and remove social distancing measures.

Motshekga said that pupils at primary, secondary and special schools would commence full-time
attendance. She added that the rotational timetable which was implemented due to the COVID-19
pandemic is coming to an end.

“In all our engagements, there has been overwhelming support for the full return of learners. We are
confident that schools are ready for the new norm,” Motshekga said.

The minister said that on Sunday a Gazette would be published which will usher the new environment as
per the cabinet’s decision.

“We have today published a Gazette, which officially ushers in the new environment as per the cabinet
decision. The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) met twice this week, and agreed that full-time
attendance starts tomorrow,” she said.

Motshekga said that the return to daily attendance will assist the sector to intensify its implementation
of the curriculum recovery plan.

“The return to normal timetabling will assist the sector to intensify its implementation of the curriculum
recovery plan. The learning losses incurred in the past two years are indisputably devastating.”
She further added that the first step towards addressing the crisis of lost learning is to prevent further
disruptions.

“The first step towards addressing the crisis of lost learning is to prevent further disruptions to school
time, and prevent other learning losses while ensuring the health and safety of our school communities.
The second step is to introduce measures to catch up on the time, as well as the teaching and learning
that was lost through the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The minister further encouraged people to vaccinate.

“We do want everyone in the sector to vaccinate, so we are encouraging our teachers to go for a
booster which is available at different health sites. We also discussed the need to make sure that we
encourage our young people to vaccinate,” Motshekga said.

The minister further addressed the issue of late delivery of stationary and overcrowding in some of the
schools.

“The matter of late delivery of stationery and textbooks in the Eastern Cape, in particular, was raised
sharply in the meetings with stakeholders. Overcrowding was also a common concern, identified as one
needing special attention.”

-Inside Education

WENDY MOTHATA |

THE Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga will on Sunday morning brief the media on the state of
readiness as schools prepare to welcome their full complement of learners.

“Basic Education Minister, Mrs Angie Motshekga will tomorrow, Sunday 06 February, host a media
briefing to provide an update on the state of readiness as schools prepare to welcome their full
complement of learners.

This is after the Cabinet approved changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 COVID-19 regulations last week.
“Primary, secondary and special schools will return to daily attendance. The regulatory provision for the
social distancing of one metre for learners in schools has also been removed. The Ministers of Health
and Basic Education will in the coming days’ issue directives reflecting on this new approach,” the
Cabinet statement said.

The Department of Basic Education has welcomed the decision by Cabinet to allow schools to return to
full-time learning in all schools.

“The Department of Basic Education welcomes the decision by Cabinet to allow schools to return to full-
time learning in all schools,” said department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga.

Mhlanga said that the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) agreed that schools would return to normal
timetable from Monday 7 February 2022.

-Inside Education

WENDY MOTHATA |

ONE SA (OSA) leader Mmusi Maimane and the members of the party have handed over a memorandum to the Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

The memorandum detail OSA’s plan to “rescue” the basic education department.

“This document outlines a rescue plan that will ensure that our young people have access to upwards economic mobility, in which they can become the future industrialists that Africa needs and future scientists who discover the cures for diseases of the present and future,” OSA said.

“Our nation’s toughest challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality cannot be addressed without dealing with the elephant in the room — the dismal state of our education system. We are failing to educate our young people and we need to do better.”

Recently, Maimane questioned the quality of education being offered in South Africa and called for an end to the 30% pass mark.

“A 30% pass mark undermines the intellect of SA’s youth and allows for obfuscation of the basic education crisis, education leaders to escape accountabilities and the entrenchment of mediocrity and low expectations,” Maimane said.

Last month, quality assurance council, Umalusi, reiterated that no learner in South Africa will be able to pass their matric by obtaining 30% in all subjects.

“Pass rates at this level are as old as the matric certificate itself, which is more than 100 years old. If learners were to obtain 30% in all subjects, they would fail. We have to remind each other what the purpose of the National Senior Certificate is. The National Senior Certificate gives learners access to a number of post-school opportunities,” said Umalusi CEO Mafu Rakometsi.

Furthermore, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga said the debate and claims made about the 30% pass mark demonstrated a lack of understanding about the NSC pass requirements.

The requirements are split into three categories which qualify pupils either for bachelor’s degree or diploma studies and the higher certificate pass.

To obtain a bachelor pass, explained the minister, pupils are required to get a minimum of 40% for their home language, 50% in four other subjects and at least 30% for the language of learning. For a diploma pass, pupils must obtain 40% for their home language, at least 40% in three other subjects and a minimum of 30% in the language of learning. For a higher certificate pass, the home language pass mark remains 40%, at least 30% in the language of learning and at least 40% in two subjects and a minimum of 30% in other subjects 

OSA proposes 10 interventions that would provide a stable foundation for progressive development in the department in the coming years.

Drop the 30% pass mark for subjectsIntroduce an independent education ombudsman     Raise salaries for educators and curtail union powerReplace life orientation with mandatory skills subjectsIncentivise pupils during the academic yearPrioritise the primary phase of educationImplement tighter security at all schools Expand extended programmes for underperforming pupilsReprioritise the budget for digital learning and infrastructureConduct a nationwide teacher skills audit

– Inside Education

WENDY MOTHATA |

THE Department of Basic Education (DBE) has announced that learners who have written their National Senior Certificate exams in November 2021 and are not satisfied with the results or have missed some of the exam sessions due to other circumstances are urged to register and re-write their National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam.

“For those that would like to re-write their NSC exam, you are given the chance the to do so,” the statement said.

The Ma your June registration closes 11 February 2022.

November registrations close 18 February 2022.

Conditions for entry

Candidates who were absent with a valid reason (medically unfit, death in the immediate family or other special reasons)

Candidates who want to improve their overall achievement status, or only want to improve the achievement of a subject.

In the case where a candidate was absent for one or more papers in the November exam with a valid reason, the candidate has to write all the papers for the registered subject(s).

In the case where an irregular is being investigated – A provisional enrolment of NSC June examination may be granted to the candidate concerned, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Candidates who were unable to write or complete one or more of the NSC November examination question papers for reasons other than illness, injury or death in the family, may apply to write the NSC June examination, provided that a written report s submitted by the principal of the school to the Head of the assessment body.

The DBE said the candidates can only register for subjects which they were registered for in any November examination.

– Inside Education

Higher Education, Science and Innovation minister Blade Nzimande has confirmed that government plans an inflation-linked price hike for colleges and universities in South Africa for the 2022 academic year.

In a media briefing on Monday (1 February), Nzimande said this will likely include:

A CPI increase to a maximum of 4.23% for tuition fees;A CPI+2% increase to a maximum of 6.23% on accommodation fees.

“I would like to point out that fee increases are agreed upon in the sector as part of a social compact that has been in place since 2016, the only year when fees were not increased.

“Since 2016, we have worked together with the sector on inflation-linked increases, to ensure that fee increases remain affordable,” he said.

Nzimande said that the long-term stability and sustainability of the Higher Education sector relies in a significant measure on tuition and residence fee income to universities, with the government currently working on a new fee regulatory policy framework.

“It should also be noted that the costs of providing university education continue to increase, and it is therefore not sustainable to consider lower than inflation fee increases.

“Fee increases are necessitated by obvious factors, including, increase in workers’ wages and staff salaries, increase in electricity and water tariffs, rising food prices, books and learning materials, and generally the rise in inflation.”

Growing debt 

Data shared by Nzimande shows that student debt has grown in South Africa’s university sector significantly in recent years.

The unaudited data showed that an estimated R6.1 billion was owed by students at the start of the 2021 academic year

Audited accumulated gross student debt as of 31 December 2020 is R16.5 billion. The amount is inclusive of students who have exited the universities with debt.

A survey conducted by the Department in 2021 showed that an estimated 56.2% of students with debt owe less than R10,000; 32.9% owe between R10,000 and R50,000; and 10.9% owe more than R50,000. The survey also showed that NSFAS students owe R5.3 billion.

New model

In addressing matters of student financial aid and student debt, Nzimande said his department is hard at work developing recommendations for a comprehensive student financial aid model for the future.

This model will incorporate the existing funding available from the state and explore alternative funding sources, he said.

“While we are concerned about the long-term sustainability of the fully-subsidised funding for students from poor and working-class backgrounds, we are also concerned about students considered to be in the “missing middle” and the need for more postgraduate funding opportunities.

“In 2021, I appointed a Ministerial Task Team to support the development of a new student financial aid policy and I am looking forward to receiving the report from the MTT in the first half of 2022.”

Nzimane added that his department has already held talks with the Banking Association of South Africa on work that needs to be done to develop a possible loan scheme for students falling outside the NSFAS funding regime.

“For missing middle students, there are also other funding opportunities available both at an institution level and other sources. We urge that those who are looking for financial support to contact their financial aid offices at their respective institutions,” he said.

–        BusinessTech