By Alicia Mmashakana

Following a court ruling earlier this week, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has urged the Eastern Cape transport department to ensure that all qualifying learners are ferried to school.

The Makhanda High Court ruled on Tuesday that department’s failure to provide scholar transport to learners in the province was “unconstitutional” and “invalid”.

The judgment handed down by Judge Nicola Molony affects around 40,000 learners requiring transport. Many of them live in rural areas and have to travel long distances to get to school.

DA provincial education spokesperson Horatio Hendricks has welcomed the judgment, saying it was time for the department to ensure that children were no longer denied their basic right to education.

“There are no more excuses. The department must comply with the court order and ensure that every deserving learner has access to scholar transport at the beginning of the new academic year,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Hendricks explained that to comply with the court’s verdict, the transport department in conjunction with the education department must finalise applications for transport by the end of next month.

It would also have to ensure that the outcome of every application for scholar transport was communicated within 10 days of the decision being taken, and where applications have been denied, reasons and details of the appeals process must be given.

Appeals must be finalised within 10 days of them being filed.

Hendricks said that where transport was not provided to qualifying learners and resulted in a qualifying learner missing school for more than a week during the 2024 academic week, sessions must be arranged over school holidays to catch up on missed work.

Over the next seven months, a comprehensive, updated report must be filed monthly with the court detailing the status of all learners in the province who have applied for scholar transport.

And, the department must provide the court with all steps taken to ensure that all qualifying learners are transported from the first day of the 2025 academic year.

The DA has also called for an end to school rationalisation, which has resulted in the closure of many small, primarily farm schools, until it can be guaranteed that every affected learner who requires scholar transport to attend schools further away has their transport fully funded.

“We commend the Legal Resources Centre and Khula Development Project for their efforts to bring this matter to light. While this ruling provides a glimmer of hope, it also exposes the systemic rot within the programme,” Hendricks said.

The DA has repeatedly called for reforms, including stricter oversight, independent audits and the return of scholar transport to the Department of Education for improved accountability.

“Scholar transport is not a luxury. It is a lifeline for thousands of children seeking education. We will continue to fight for their safety, their rights, and their future” he said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has rejected a proposal by Solidarity to navigate the impasse on the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act.

Sadtu spokesperson Nomusa Cembi has reiterated the union’s threat of legal action if the legislation is not implemented, including the contentious sections 5 and 6 that deal with school admissions and language policy, despite the proposed negotiation by Solidarity.

“We call on the president to promulgate these two clauses in full, otherwise we will take him to court,” Cembi told Inside Education on Wednesday.

This follows Solidarity’s proposal to Sadtu for a “win-win solution”.

Solidarity CEO Dirk Herman maintained that there was no legal route for the immediate implementation of Bela in its entirety, and that there was a greater chance of resolving the dispute if ordinary workers engaged in dialogue rather than political parties fighting with each other.

Herman proposed a shift from divisive public discourse to constructive dialogue aimed at finding common ground acceptable to a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance, Sadtu and AfriForum.

He suggested that unresolved issues related to the legislation should form part of an upcoming national dialogue on education and development.

Solidarity has extended an invitation to the country’s largest teacher union to engage in discussions focusing on mother-tongue education for African language speakers.

Hermann highlighted that promoting multilingualism and improving access to quality education for the majority of learners must be central to these discussions.

He said that while the president was responsible for assenting to and proclaiming the commencement of the Act, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube must ensure the necessary norms, standards, regulations and policies were in place for its implementation.

Solidarity’s proposal includes recognising the work already done by Parliament and other stakeholders, as well as affirming the distinct responsibilities in implementing Bela.

The proposal further urges Gwarube to expedite the creation of regulation and policies, and says that any necessary legislative amendments, particularly those supporting mother-tongue education, follow standard legislative procedures.

This is based on an agreement reached between Solidarity and Gwarube at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).

Hermann reiterated the urgency of resolving the matter, saying he believed that a unified approach could have far-reaching benefits for the nation’s education system and societal development.

However, Cembi criticised what she claimed as an incorrect perspective regarding the law.

“It is wrong for Solidarity to say the president can announce that the Act will be implemented in full once the norms and standards are in place and policies have been developed. The correct route is that the Act is declared or promulgated and then the regulations follow,” Cembi said.

The union previously threatened both legal and protest action on the first day of school next year if the Presidency decided against the full implementation of the legislation as well as the exclusion of the tripartite alliance partners from the discussions.

The three-month discussion period for parties in the Government of National Unity on the clauses ended last Friday, after Ramaphosa put a hold on implementation of the law to allow for the discussions in September.

Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said the Congress of SA Trade Unions was excluded from the discussions, despite being the convener of the labour constituency at Nedlac.

The SA Communist Party has also backed the union.

Earlier in the month, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the Nedlac agreement has no power to influence Ramaphosa’s final decision on the matter.

Magwenya said Solidarity was just one among many interested parties in the matter and that the deal had no bearing, in law or practical effect, on the GNU discussions.

He said the next step was for the president to determine the date of commencement of the law and for the necessary regulations to be finalised.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

The University of Cape Town has paid tribute to its esteemed Registrar, Royston Pillay, who will be taking early retirement at the end of December. 

With a remarkable 27 years of dedication and service to the institution, Pillay leaves behind a legacy of commitment and excellence.

“Pillay’s tenure at UCT has been nothing short of transformative… His presence will be greatly missed, but his impact will endure in the fabric of our university,” said UCT Vice-Chancellor Mosa Moshabela.

During his time at UCT, Pillay has held various important positions, including head of the student affairs secretariat, faculty manager for the Faculty of Humanities and director of student admissions. 

As Registrar, he played an integral part in the governance and academic framework of the university, ensuring the smooth functioning of critical governance bodies.

He successfully established a seamless online registration process through Project Harambee, greatly improving the efficiency of the registration process for students. Additionally, he oversaw a staggering 145 graduation ceremonies, celebrating the achievements of over 60,000 graduates. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Pillay ensured the safe continuation of graduation ceremonies by implementing a hybrid approach, which included virtual celebrations and outdoor walks of celebration. 

Furthermore, he provided dedicated support across three council terms, demonstrating his commitment to the university’s governance and leadership. 

Moshabela praised Pillay’s leadership, saying: “He has been the backbone of our administration, ensuring that everything… has been executed with efficiency and diligence. His quiet but steady leadership has made a huge difference to the student experience.”

The VC also expressed his gratitude to Pillay, for his “sterling” leadership throughout his tenure at UCT.

“His calm stewardship and dedication to the university’s interests at all times… have been very important in preserving the values and mission of the university.”

As Pillay departs, the university community remembers these words of wisdom.

“In the words of Desmond Tutu, ‘Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world’. Mr Pillay’s many ‘little bits of good’ have indeed overwhelmed UCT in the most profound way,” Moshabela noted.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

Basic Education director-general Mathanzima Mweli is pleased with the process of marking the National Senior Certificate exam papers.

He has also praised the dedication of educators and the meticulous measures that were put in place to ensure accuracy and integrity.

Mweli visited all 183 marking centres across South Africa in 13 days as part of overseeing this critical phase of the exam, which concluded on Saturday. There were total of 50,741 markers.

Speaking to Inside Education, Mweli highlighted the seamless execution of the marking process and why the visits were important.

“The visits were intended to convey appreciation from the minister, deputy minister, and myself to the markers for their sacrifice in undertaking this exercise under very stringent and controlled conditions,” Mweli said.

“The feedback from marking centres post-visit was overwhelmingly positive.”

Mweli noted that the marking conditions including accommodation, venues, and meals met high standards, with contingency plans effectively addressing challenges like load-shedding and extreme temperatures.

The process unfolded in two staggered sessions, starting on 16 November and concluding on 14 December. It included multiple layers of quality assurance, such as moderation by senior markers, chief markers and internal moderators, coupled with external checks by the department and Umalusi.

“This rigorous process ensures the highest quality of marking,” Mweli explained.

“Every script, over 10.3 million in total, was carefully checked for completeness and accuracy before being captured on the national examination computer system.”

While Mweli expressed satisfaction with the overall NSC process, he acknowledged its emotional toll as four markers had died.

“One from the Northern Cape fell ill, another in Gauteng succumbed to injuries after a fall, a Limpopo marker passed away shortly after returning home and a fourth was a victim of a hijacking. These incidents have left us deeply saddened, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to their families,” he said.

Mweli emphasised that the strict adherence to regulations prevented any security breaches. 

“Security at marking centres is tightly controlled, with clear protocols ensuring no unauthorised individuals gain access and no scripts leave the venue without authorisation,” he said.

With marking completed, the next steps included the processing and standardisation of marks by Umalusi. 

Despite some challenges, Mweli affirmed confidence in the integrity of the NSC process, underscoring its critical role in upholding the credibility of South Africa’s education system.

“I am extremely satisfied with how the NSC examination processes have unfolded so far,” he told Inside Education.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The Suid Afrikaanse Onderwyse Unie (SAOU) has reiterated its demand for the North West education department to submit a new report concerning the post provision mechanisms (PPMs) to schools, following inaccuracies and delays in previous attempts.

Speaking to Inside Education on Monday, SAOU provincial secretary Johan Kruger, expressed his disappointment in the department’s delay in attending the matter.

“Unfortunately, the department left everybody in the dark, so to speak. The PPMs are incorrect. The department does not even answer our attorney letters,” Kruger said.

The union issued a letter of demand earlier in the month, calling on the department to withdraw the PPM report compiled late November as it allegedly contains numerous inaccuracies.

However, Kruger confirmed the department had failed to respond to the demand by the deadline and that, SAOU was currently considering taking further legal steps.

Additionally, the letter demanded written confirmation that the same PPM as was set for 2024, be applied to public schools in respect of the 2025 academic year.

The union claims that more than 100 schools in the province are affected by the adjusted PPM.

“The result of the unlawful conduct by the department is that principals and educators are placed under enormous stress because they are not able to finalise their planning for 2025. Ultimately, quality education is negatively affected,” the letter reads.

Last month, in a letter to education MEC Viola Motsumi, HOD Maropeng Seshibe and other senior education officials, Kruger expressed grave concern over the department’s inability to meet its statutory obligations.

He said some of the key errors included inconsistent weightings used to calculate teacher allocations being inexplicably increased, and several primary schools reporting that Grade R enrolments were omitted from calculations, reducing their post allocations.

And, schools catering to learners with special educational needs found discrepancies in weightings based on disability classifications, while some schools did not receive the additional posts promised in initial drafts.

It is understood that department will announce a comprehensive PPM report later this week, as well as other measures to be undertaken to address the crisis.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

KwaZulu-Natal will host a National Student Financial Aid Scheme student accommodation workshop, bringing together key stakeholders to address critical issues affecting student accommodation and formulate strategies for the 2025 academic year.

The workshop, which will be held in Durban on Tuesday and Wednesday, is expected be led by NSFAS administrator Freeman Nomvalo.

It will provide a platform for collaboration among universities, Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges, student representatives and accommodation providers.

NSFAS spokesperson Anele Ntswayi said with the rising demand for affordable, high-quality and accessible student housing, the workshop sought to develop actionable solutions to stabilise and enhance the student accommodation ecosystem.

Ntswayi confirmed the workshop would focus on three main goals including encouraging collaboration between NSFAS and other stakeholders to foster a coordinated approach to student housing challenges.

Additionally, planning for 2025 would help create clear strategies to address current gaps and ensure smoother accommodation services for the next academic year.

The workshop would address core challenges by tackling pressing issues such as the affordability, quality and accessibility of student accommodation to ensure all students had a conducive living and learning environment.

He said student accommodation remained a critical concern in South Africa’s higher education sector, with many students facing inadequate housing options, often compromising their academic performance and overall well-being.

As the primary financial aid provider for underprivileged students, the NSFAS recognises the urgent need to streamline and enhance the accommodation process.

The workshop sessions will feature discussions on policy, infrastructure and innovative funding models to ensure affordable and high-quality student housing.

KwaZulu-Natal is among the top three provinces, including Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, that have required detailed attention from the scheme to clear student accommodation claims.

Nomvalo confirmed that he would ensure all legitimate claims would be settled by the end of the year.

The province’s largest student accommodation development commenced construction last month near the main gate of the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard College campus in Durban’s Berea.

The R800 million project, led by Growthpoint Properties under its Thrive Student Living brand, is expected to provide 2400 student beds, addressing the student housing shortage.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Edwin Naidu

As the year winds down and the focus turns to 2025, amid the nervous wait for thousands of matric results, it is always refreshing to find education providers who employ creative tactics to woo new students.

Public universities, such as the University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, University of Johannesburg, University of Pretoria and others, raise the bar in targeting new students with innovative campaigns.

However, they have competition ahead. Private education provider Regent Business School has launched an inspiring new campaign for 2025 enrolments

“Surround Yourself with Success” is aimed at inspiring future business leaders.

It may sound like something one reads from the countless motivational pieces of advice one finds on social media. But it is built on the idea that success often stems from surrounding yourself with ambitious, like-minded individuals. The campaign invites students to join a vibrant community of professionals, industry experts and mentors.

It focuses on 2025 enrolments for programmes like an MBA, DBA, BCom, and Higher Certificate and highlights the value of engaging with a successful network.

The campaign particularly appeals to mature students ready to advance their careers or switch fields – a growing segment in Regent Business School’s MBA and DBA programmes.

According to Regent Business School marketing manager Prabashni Reddy, students gained academic knowledge and practical insights through an established network of accomplished professionals.

The school’s postgraduate programmes offer clear paths for those ready to progress. The MBA and DBA programmes provide thorough training and mentorship from expert faculty and industry leaders, helping students reach impactful careers.

South Africa’s supply chain sector is thriving, with career opportunities at all levels, from logistics and procurement to executive roles.

The school is one of the few institutions offering a complete pathway in supply chain management, from foundational courses to advanced degrees. Supply chain professionals are vital in maintaining efficiency, making this sector a cornerstone of the country’s economy.

Data intelligence has become essential in business, and the school recently introduced a postgraduate qualification in business intelligence to meet this need.

Its project management courses are also attracting interest. They prepare graduates to lead projects from start to finish, a valuable skill across industries.

As matriculants consider their next steps, Regent Business School encourages them to explore options like a BCom, which remains the top choice among young students. Nearly 43% of Regent Business School’s students are enrolled in the BCom programme, which provides a strong foundation for finance, marketing, management and other careers.

The business school says its diverse programmes prepare students for roles at every level, allowing them to grow as their careers evolve.

Given the challenges in the public sector, private education schooling and tertiary education is booming.

To make it big, one needs to surround oneself with people of high standards and ambition. Don’t settle for mediocrity. 

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Edwin Naidu

The political impasse over the contested Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act must be swiftly resolved to ensure South Africans can learn and teach in schools with level playing fields.

Three decades after apartheid, children are still treated unfairly within the schooling system, with apartheid benefits continuing to persist.

The Act makes grade R, grades 10 to 12, and homeschooling compulsory. However, the most debated and controversial parts of the legislation are the disputed clauses 4 and 5.

The law aims to improve early childhood education and ensure students finish school. It also standardises admissions, language policies, discipline and homeschooling rules to address school system inequalities.

AfriForum, the Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus are opposed to levelling the playing fields for all South Africans. They want to protect their turf as under apartheid.

They are concerned that the new powers granted to provincial education officials could be used to force single-language schools, particularly Afrikaans-medium schools, to change their language policies. They fear schools may be pressured to adopt dual-medium education, which could dilute mother-tongue instruction and increase running costs. There is also concern that officials might override admission policies, potentially overcrowding schools already operating efficiently.

Following opposition in September, President Cyril Ramaphosa put a hold on implementing Sections 4 and 5 of the Act – relating to language policy and admissions processes at schools – for three months to allow for deliberation among GNU parties.

During the Bill’s public signing, Ramaphosa made it clear that if the parties could not reach an agreement before the deadline on Friday, 13 December, full implementation of the Act would proceed.

Following deliberations, the matter is in the hands of the president.

One hopes for a speedier outcome than the usual slow pace from the President.

Thirty years after democracy, South Africa’s learners are no closer to benefiting from a system that decently equips them for the 21st century. The Bela Act must come into being to transform the schooling system that is mired with problems.

For example, despite the National School Nutrition Programme to address hunger, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, in the past year, the Department of Basic Education confirmed 23 deaths of children between six and nine at schools through food poisoning incidents.

Since the beginning of September 2024, 890 reported incidents of food-borne illnesses across all provinces have been reported. Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have been the most affected, with Limpopo, Free State and Mpumalanga recording dozens of incidents.

Early in her tenure, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube pledged to eradicate pit latrine toilets. In 2013, they were banned from schools and meant to be removed and replaced by 2016. Eight years later, all targets were missed, with an estimated 3900 pit latrine toilets remaining.

Empty promises are of no consolation to parents whose children have perished in pit latrines throughout the country. The Department says they will be eradicated by 2025. Promises! Promises!

But if the Minister does not put South Africa ahead of her party, the DA, there is little hope in achieving her lofty ambitions without the provisions of the BELA Act.

Edwin Naidu is the Editor of Inside Education.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The University of Pretoria (UP) has welcomed the recent milestone of its spin-out company, hearScreen, in its journey from a groundbreaking invention to a global leader in hearing health technology.

In a ceremony marking this achievement, members of UP’s Innovation and Contracts Management Division joined hearX Group executives to sign an agreement transferring the invention’s intellectual property (IP) to hearScreen (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of the hearX Group.

UP’s Innovation and Contracts Management head Lawrence Baloyi described the transfer of the IP to the company as a significant milestone for both UP and hearScreen.

“They succeeded in turning an idea into something tangible and, more importantly, they are making a real impact in the world of hearing health. When industry and academia work hand in hand, magic happens,” Baloyi said.

He acknowledged that this would not have been possible without the hard work, vision and perseverance of the entire team.

UP hailed the development as representing the culmination of a university-licensed innovation’s commercialisation process.

Developed in 2016 as a mobile hearing screening application, hearScreen was designed to address the lack of access to hearing tests in underserved communities.

The invention was the result of a collaborative effort between UP researchers De Wet Swanepoel from the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Department and Herman Myburgh from the Electrical, Electronic, and Computer Engineering Department.

The innovation quickly gained attention beyond the healthcare sector, drawing interest from industries such as mining and clinical research.

Over the years, hearScreen expanded its offerings to include comprehensive diagnostic tools for occupational health and neonatal care, alongside platforms for fitting and supporting hearing aids.

With the United States deregulating the hearing aid market in 2022, hearX could market over-the-counter hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss, positioning the company as a global pioneer in digital hearing solutions, and enabling it to detect, diagnose and treat hearing loss on a large scale.

National Intellectual Property Management Office head Jetane Charsley emphasised the importance of translating research into real-world solutions.

“This success showcases the power of partnerships and the impact of innovation on improving lives,” Charsley said.

The university welcomed hearScreen as illustrating the transformative potential of South African innovation, with a ripple effect poised to advance global healthcare.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Akani Nkuna

Deputy Higher Education Minister Mimmy Gondwe has praised the efficiency of her department’s help desk in addressing queries, saying it demonstrates the government’s commitment in supporting students and stakeholders in the sector.

“I am happy to announce that since its establishment in August this year, as of the end of November, the desk has dealt with close to 7000 queries and managed to resolve 75% of those queries,” said Gondwe said in a newsletter published by her department.

The primary function of the help desk is to offer swift, personalised support to students and stakeholders, addressing queries and concerns, particularly those related to National Student Financial Aid Scheme and the delayed issuance of diplomas and certificates.

“It emerged early on in my tenure that students and other stakeholders did not feel they had an outlet where their grievances and issues were heard and promptly responded to. My response to this was to establish the help desk in my office,” Gondwe added.

In the newsletter, the deputy minister spoke about the Government of National Unity and its priorities, which included inclusive growth and job creation, making it easier for people to access opportunities and benefit from economic growth.

“Education must be seen as a means to an end which is ensuring that those who acquire it can use their skills to participate meaningfully in the economy either as employees or as entrepreneurs employing others,” she said.

The department co-hosted the inaugural Skills and Jobs Investment Summit with the Johannesburg Business School at the University of Johannesburg, bringing together key stakeholders. They were from the post-school education and training sector, TVETs, SETAs, government, industry and academia.

“The summit succeeded in bringing to light the pressing issues in South Africa’s skills development landscape by fostering meaningful dialogue among stakeholders from industry, academia, government, and community organizations,” Gondwe said.

It provided a platform for a thorough examination of the existing gaps between education and employment, identifying the key challenges that prevented educational institutions from producing graduates with skills that meet the demands of the labour market.

Gondwe welcomed the initiative to create innovation hubs and integrate entrepreneurial skills into education programmes, recognising its potential to prepare graduates for both employment and self-employment.

She also voiced concerns about the proliferation of unaccredited and fraudulent private colleges nationwide, which could undermine the quality of education and hinder the country’s progress.

“Bogus or illegal colleges that do not follow or flout the prescripts of the law cause, what is sometimes irreparable harm to students when they are forced to shut down,” she said.

The department partnered with the City of Joburg in November to launch an awareness campaign to expose and prevent illegal or bogus private higher education institutions.

It seeks to educate prospective students on how to identify and avoid these unaccredited colleges.

INSIDE EDUCATION