Inside Education Reporter

The Class of 2023 successfully concluded their final examination paper for the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination on 06 December 2023. 

National education quality assurance body, Umalusi, has approved the release of the November 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations and this was announced by Umalusi council chairperson Professor Yunus Ballim at a media briefing on Monday.

More than 890 000 fulltime and part-time candidates sat for the matric exams administered by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) at the back end of 2023.

“Having studied all the evidence presented, EXCO of Council concluded that the examinations were administered largely in accordance with the regulations pertaining to the conduct, administration and management of the [NSC] examinations.

“EXCO of Council therefore approves the release of the DBE November 2023 [NSC] examination results,” Ballim said.

Ballim added that irregularities that were identified during the writing and marking stages of the examinations “were not systemic and therefore did not compromise the overall credibility and integrity” of the NSC exams administered by the DBE.

“In respect of identified irregularities, the DBE is required to block the results of all candidates implicated in irregularities including the candidates who are implicated in the alleged acts of dishonesty pending the outcome of the DBE investigations and verification by Umalusi.

“Umalusi is concerned about the recurring instances of printing and packaging errors in question papers and the ongoing practice of group copying.

“The DBE is required to address the directors for compliance and improvement highlighted in the quality assurance of assessment report and to submit an improvement plan by the 15th of March 2024,” he said.

The ministerial announcement on the exam results is expected to be made by DBE Minister Angie Motshekga on Thursday (18 January) with the general result release set for the next day (Friday).

Minister Motshekga will announce the results of the 2023 NSC examination at the Mosaïek Church in Randburg in the Gauteng Province on 18 January 2024.

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Inside Education Reporter

Matric 2023 examination results, which will be announced in Johannesburg on 19 January, have received the thumbs up from quality assurer Umalusi which has approved the release of the November 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. 

However, the quality assurance body says it is concerned about the unresolved irregularities associated with the previous cycle of examinations, especially in the private college space. 

“We urge the assessment bodies concerned to give this matter the priority that it deserves. At the same time, we are deeply concerned about the detected cases of group copying involving 945 candidates who wrote the NSC examinations in 2023. 

“Of this number, 763 (80.7%) cases were detected in KwaZulu-Natal and 164 (17.7%) in Mpumalanga. According to the report submitted, these are cases where the candidates displayed common answers and, in some cases, same wrong and right answers. These cases are not yet resolved because the numbers are still being verified,” said chief executive officer Dr Mafu Rakometsi. 

Providing an update on the progress made in connection with the problem of selling and buying of fake and /or fraudulent certificates, Rakometsi said eleven (11) suspects have been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on different dates. 

The first two suspects were arrested in Burgersfort in Limpopo on 27 October, one suspect was arrested in Pretoria in November, the next three were arrested on 20 November, and the last five were nabbed on 13 December 2023 again in Burgersfort, Limpopo.

On the other hand, the Hawks arrested an employee of the Department of Higher Education on 11 December 2023 for fraudulently issuing a diploma certificate for cash. 

The suspect has been charged with corruption and his court case has been postponed to 19 January 2024. “Police investigations are ongoing and Umalusi will continue to work closely with the law enforcement agencies in whatever way possible to ensure that the scammers or fraudsters are made to face the full might of the law. Umalusi would like to reassure the public that its certificates have robust safeguards to protect their authenticity and credibility.”

Rakometsi said Umalusi’s mandate is to issue authentic certificates to qualifying candidates and the organisation has no business with fake certificates. “Fake certificates are issued by scammers or fraudsters who are not employees of Umalusi. We advise all employers both in the public and private sectors to consider verifying their current and future employees’ qualifications through the verification agencies whose contact details are available on the website of Umalusi (www.umalusi.org.za).”

The wait is almost over for the Class of 2023 matriculants. 

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Sports Writer

THE University of Cape Town (UCT) Cheerleading Club has redefined the sport, focusing on inclusivity and skill development. The shift has sparked widespread interest, and the sport has been gaining attention both nationally and internationally.

Having started as just “part of the Ikeys vibe”, focusing on performing during the rugby games, it was only in 2022 that the club’s status changed from a society to being officially recognised as an official sport in accordance with international standards of the International Cheer Union. The union is a member of the Association of International Olympic Committee Recognised International Sports Federations.

Reflecting on the squad’s journey from being a small society to an official sport, choreography director of the UCT Cheerleading Club, Tayla Morrow, said “The UCT Cheerleading Club began as part of the Ikeys vibe, initially focused on rugby. Over time, we expanded to also perform during halftime shows for the basketball team. We were seen more as a society than a sport and managed ourselves without any funding”.

“We started as a small group with big dreams, and despite facing financial challenges, we persevered and worked hard to showcase our talent,” she added.

The club’s hard work and dedication finally paid off when they were approached by UCT Sport to become an official sport. 

“We’re now able to participate in major events like the Varsity Cup competition, and we have the resources to continue growing and improving as a club.

“In 2022, our hard work finally paid off when we gained recognition for our performances during basketball games and were invited to become an official sport.”

This provided the team with much-needed funding and a platform to engage with the university community on a larger scale. “We’re now able to participate in major events like the Varsity Cup competition, and we have the resources to continue growing and improving as a club,” Morrow added.

In addition to their regular performances, the team has also appeared in other media, such as Tyla Laura Seethal’s music video “Getting Late” in 2020.

“These opportunities did not only provide valuable exposure for the team to reach a wider audience, but also marked its entry onto a national and global stage,” she said.

“Cheerleading is no longer just a sideline activity. It requires strength, agility, and coordination, akin to other sports, and our ongoing efforts aim to have it acknowledged as such.”

Diversified auditions

Morrow and team have revolutionised their audition process, emphasising the holistic evaluation of candidates based on their choreography skills, performance quality, attitude, and optional demonstrations of gymnastics abilities.

 Tayla Morrow (left) and her fellow teammates performing at the UCT Day event.

“We welcome individuals from different backgrounds, regardless of their experience in dance or gymnastics. We want individuals who bring positivity and adaptability to the team,” she noted.

While prior experience in dance or gymnastics is not strictly necessary, the team does look for a baseline level of fitness from potential members. “Our auditions are competitive due to the growing popularity of the team, and we need to ensure that new members can keep up with the rigorous practices.”

She explained that while the team has not really attracted much male-identifying people, the team is committed to inclusivity. “We’re a welcoming team that strives to be as inclusive as possible. We don’t discriminate on the basis of gender, sexuality, or any other factor. 

We encourage anyone interested in joining to reach out, no matter their background. Our goal is to create a team where everyone feels empowered to express themselves and contribute to our shared success,” she said. 

“We encourage anyone interested in joining to reach out, no matter their background.

“However, we’re more concerned with a candidate’s ability to learn choreography and perform well, as well as their attitude and personality. We value a positive and supportive environment, so we consider these qualities during the selection process. And while dance and gymnastics skills can be helpful, we provide training throughout the year, so new members don’t need to be experts when they join,” she added.

Rigorous training regimen

The team, which consists of two squads – a competition squad and a social squad – has demonstrated their dedication to excellence through their rigorous training regimen.

“The competition squad is made up of 35 experienced and dedicated cheerleaders who train four to five days a week for around two-and-a-half hours each session. Meanwhile, the social squad is composed of 42 individuals who primarily participate in social events like campus activations and alumni gatherings, where the focus is more on creating a fun atmosphere than intense performances,” Morrow explained.

“Our training instills discipline, teamwork, and perseverance, pushing our cheerleaders to surpass their limits.”

Outreach initiatives and future goals

While the squad scaled back their outreach activities this year due to unforeseen circumstances, Morrow and team are eagerly looking ahead to the future. Community engagement and outreach initiatives will form a significant part of their plans for the upcoming year. “We are keen on extending our support to other communities, bringing cheer to local churches, and using our skills to uplift others,” she said.

Morrow’s passion for the sport is driven by a love for dance which was evident at an early age. She pursued competitive dancing from childhood until university.

“Throughout my life, I have been dedicated to dancing, beginning at the early age of three. I pursued competitive dancing until I had a change of plan and decided to attend UCT, with the intention of majoring in theater and dance,” said Morrow.

She recently completed her honours in organisational psychology at UCT.

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Lerato Mbhiza

THE Department of Higher Education and Training has announced that it has created a R3.8 billion fund within the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) aimed at assisting the country’s “missing middle” students. 

According to an announcement made by the department’s minister, Blade Nzimande, the new Comprehensive Student Funding Model introduces measures to support a wider-ranging category of students including those who are currently not supported by the NSFAS bursary and funding policy. 

Nzimande made the announcement in Pretoria on Sunday, as he briefed the media on the implementation of the first phase of the Comprehensive Student Funding Model. 

This new category is for students whose families have a total income of more than R350,000, but not more than R600,000 per annum. 

Previously, NSFAS funding was only available to households falling in the low-income category (R350,000 p/a). Between 2019 and 2022, NSFAS disbursed R123 billion worth of loans for 2,918,624 beneficiaries. 

According to the most recently conducted National Income Dynamic Study, it is estimated that 85.6% of all households fall in the low-income category, and 11% of households fall into the missing middle category. 

This newly-introduced category by NSFAS “will ensure that the missing middle students will now be able to access financial support from the government in the form of a loan to pursue their studies,” said Nzimande. 

The Comprehensive Student Funding Model would be implemented in phases. The first and current phase (2024 – 2025) allocates a total of R3.8 billion. R1.5 billion is from the National Skills Fund (NSF), and R2.3 billion is from the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas). 

“This amount will fund 47% of the missing middle students, that is, 31,884 of the estimated 68,446 missing middle students,” said Nzimande.

In addition Nzimande appointed Professor Lourens Van Staden as acting chairperson of NSFAS to stand in for Ernest Khosa, who has taken a leave of absence. His announcement comes amid calls for his own resignation following allegations of corruption and maladministration. 

Khosa has taken a 30-day leave of absence while the board investigates allegations that he defrauded the institution by taking kickbacks from service providers. 

The allegations were leveled by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), which also linked Nzimande to the alleged kickbacks. Khosa and Nzimande have both denied they took kickbacks. 

Van Staden is a former vice-chancellor of Tshwane University of Technology and in 2022 was appointed as administrator of the troubled Mangosuthu University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal.

NSFAS has been embroiled in controversy over the past year following its move to appoint service providers to disburse funds directly to students. CEO Andile Nongogo was fired in October following investigations into claims he had a conflict of interest in appointing the service providers. 

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Johnathan Paoli

THE Competition Commission has confirmed that it has received hundreds of complaints from parents over the high price of school uniforms.

The National Association of School Governing Bodies has also called for schools to buy their children’s school uniforms wherever they can afford them, with spokesperson Matakanye Matakanye saying that uniforms must not be exclusively bought from one shop.

Matakanye said that the association was against ‘evergreen contracts’ between schools and particular suppliers instead calling for the need for parents to buy according to their budget.

Principal Analyst in the Advocacy Department at the Competition Commission Betty Mkatshwa said that every year they were inundated with calls from parents about this issue and it has been ongoing for some time.

She said that when schools have an exclusive arrangement with one supplier, this allows the supplier to change the quality and price of products without having to worry about competing.

Legal Officer at the Federation of Governing Bodies of SA Schools Juané van der Merwe said that it was not necessary to have so many unique and branded uniform pieces, as this was contributing to the lack of competition.

Van der Merwe said that it should be investigated whether young children really required wearing blazers, as this was usually the most expensive piece of the uniform.

In 2021, the Competition Commission agreed that schools should abandon exclusivity with uniform suppliers.

The CC’s Karabo Mataung said that they were clear that no specific targeting of schools would take place, but that schools should not think that if they continue with this behaviour, they would not face prosecution.

Motaung said that parents who are still finding themselves forced to buy from schools or specific suppliers are welcome to lodge complaints with the commission.

The commission has previously called for guidelines promoting healthy competition among school suppliers, such as generic school uniforms that are available from many suppliers, schools to appoint more than one supplier to give parents options, exclusivity to be limited to items that the school regards as necessary to get from preselected suppliers, and exclusive agreements to last between three and five years.

Mataung said that competition between suppliers of school uniforms was important because it benefits both parents and other businesses, allowed new businesses to enter the market, and encouraged firms to offer lower prices and better-quality products.

The commission maintained that this would contribute to economic growth by creating jobs and increasing consumer choice, among other benefits.

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Lerato Mbhiza

THE Labour Court has dismissed the application by former National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) CEO Andile Nongogo to have his sacking declared unlawful and void.

Acting judge Maletsatsi Mahalelo ruled on Monday that whereas the NSFAS disciplinary policy governs, formalises and standardises the disciplinary process for all employees to ensure they are treated fairly and consistently, there seemed to be a conflict between Nongogo’s employment contract and the disciplinary code.

In October, the Nsfas board terminated Nongogo’s contract after investigating allegations related to the appointment of direct payment service providers. This decision came after Nongogo was placed on special leave in August amid controversies surrounding the scheme’s direct payment contract. The Labour Court has dismissed his application to declare his sacking unlawful and invalid

Judge MB Mahalelo also dismissed with costs Nongogo’s application to strike out certain paragraphs contained in the Werksman Attorney’s report.

OUTA’s Investigations Manager, Rudie Heyneke said, “We are quite disappointed. The way that the minister responded, but one thing we can say is that the minister made a call to us saying listen, come forward with all your information…it is time now to put all your information on the table and we’re ready and happy to meet with the minister to discuss whatever he wants to know from us.

I think you know these recordings were just the last straw that broke the camel’s back, and everybody has said this is enough; we want the minister to be investigated by law enforcement.”

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Lerato Mbhiza

Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has refuted allegations that he received kickbacks from service providers that were awarded multi million-rand tenders by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

Nzimande was speaking at a media briefing at the GCIS offices in Pretoria in response to allegations of corruption within NSFAS leveled against him by the civil society organisation.

The tenders were awarded to the companies in order for them to administer direct payments to students.

Nzimande said he has never received money from any of the service providers or any other entities falling under the Department of Higher Education and Training.

“Firstly, I wish to once again assure the South African public that, as minister of higher education, science and innovation I have never used any money from any of my department’s entities for the purpose of funding the SACP, as maliciously suggested in the Outa’s [Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse] report.

“Nor have I received any personal kickbacks from any of the service providers to NSFAS or any of the other entities falling under my departments.

“I therefore wish to dismiss this baseless insinuation by OUTA and some organisations including some sections of the media, that I as minister was involved in some form of corruption at NSFAS.

“These are all lies that emanate from a malicious fightback campaign. My conscience is clear, and I have nothing to hide or fear.”

Nzimande said the allegations against him and Khosa “are part of a fightback campaign that is linked to success and measures I have taken to fight corruption and ensure clean governance at NSFAS.

“This campaign includes threats to the life and person of the NSFAS chairperson.

“It is our view therefore that the leaked recordings are part of a nefarious fightback campaign that is meant to undermine and frustrate the decision of the NSFAS board to start with the legal proceedings to terminate the contracts of these four direct payment solution service providers, as recommended by the Werksmans report.

“And I’ve also voluntarily decided that I am going to subject myself to the relevant legal processes and ethics bodies of the African National Congress, its integrity committee, and the South African Communist Party, its central ethics commission, ” he said. 

Outa has alleged that Nzimande, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and NSFAS board chair, Khosa received millions of rands from service providers awarded multi-million rand tenders to administer direct payments to students.

Meanwhile, DA leader John Steenhuisen said the party plans to lay criminal charges against Nzimande for the corruption allegations leveled against him.

Steenhuisen said the party also plans to brief its legal team to declare the NSFAS board delinquent.

However, the South African Communist Party (SACP) has supported Nzimande who is the party’s chairperson and has rejected the Outa allegations.

In a statement SACP said it has never approached or delegated any person

“to approach any entity, public or private, to request funds illegitimately. We both reject and denounce the allegation that the NSFAS funded the Party with the contempt it deserves.

“The SACP has never received any funding in return of any favour anywhere,

and any person or entity who will make the attempt to approach the Party with such

funding support will face the full might of the law the SACP will lay a criminal charge against that person or entity”.

The statement added that a legitimate investigation upholds the fundamental principle of justice, “audi alteram partem, meaning listen to the other side, before you can reach conclusions. Any exercise, including by a non-governmental organisation, that violates this fundamental principle is not an investigation but something else.

“The opportunist party of overwhelmingly white leaders in an overwhelmingly black population, the DA, is using the non-governmental organisation OUTA’s utterances and the untested allegation as its electioneering agenda”. 

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Staff Reporter

Amid growing calls jfor his axing, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Prof Blade Nzimande has broken his silence on corruption allegations against him contained in a leaked report by the civil society movement, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA).

“The Minister wishes to reject the malicious allegations contained in the leaked OUTA report and further reassures the public that he never used any money from any of Department’s entities for the purpose of funding the South African Communist Party (SACP),” said a statement.

The Minister views the allegations contained in this leaked report as reckless and largely based on gossip, intended to undermine a smooth start to the 2024 academic year.

Furthermore, given the damaging allegations continued in this report the Minister reserves his right to take the necessary legal action against OUTA, which called on Nzimande to resign over his role in alleged bribery claims.
“The Minister wishes to reaffirm his and the Department’s commitment to clean governance within the Department and its entities.

The Minister remains focused on the immediate task of preparing for the start of the 2024 academic year and calls upon all our Post-School Education and Training stakeholders not to be distracted but to focus on the start of the academic year.”

But the South African Union of Students, the Democratic Alliance, and the Activists and Citizens Forum, called for action against Nzimande.

Chantel King, the DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, called on President Ramaphosa to sack Nzimande from his duties as Minister and lodge an investigation into his alleged involvement with NSFAS syphoned funds. 

“The President must also use his power to suspend NSFAS board chairperson Mr. Khosa from having any involvement with state funds.”

OUTA’s release of voice recording between two meetings between Mr. Khosa, Mr. Thulas Ntumba a service provider and an anonymous individual revealed a corrupt patronage system who is only focused on diverting funds away from students.

These recordings revealed how a third party was informed of NSFAS dealings around the issue of former CEO Andile Nongogo and the instruction given to Mr. Khosa by Mr. Ntumba to enrol the services of Werksman’s attorneys to investigate allegations against Mr. Nongogo to control the situation. 

It also revealed how Mr. Ntumba and associates paid for SACP’s congress and kickbacks to Mr. Khosa and the Minister.

These voice recordings give a glimpse into corruption at NSFAS under the current board chairperson who is controlled by a syndicate whose tentacles stretch to SETA’s funds as well.

“Minister Nzimande’s war room to tackle challenges at the start of the academic year is therefore nothing more than a smoke screen to divert attention away from the fact that more than 20 000 students still have not been onboarded,” King said.

“Minister Blade and NSFAS board chairperson are tainted, and they must be investigated and fired with immediate effect, notwithstanding criminal charges laid against them as this is nothing less than NSFAS capture 2.0! Students and the higher education sector at large are vital to produce educated and skilled
individuals for the economic progression of the country. The DA will ensure that the reports released by OUTA, and any criminal charges or investigations lodged, will be thoroughly investigated and those found responsible be appropriately sanctioned and/or imprisoned.”

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Staff Reporter

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has placed 31st in the world and top in Africa in Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments. UCT jumped up 18 places from 49th position in the 2022 ranking to 31st in 2023.

First published in 2016, this ranking highlights the performance of more than 300 universities, among which 15 are now sports universities and 285 have sport-related units. Of these, 42 universities have more than one sport-related institution or unit.

“UCT has long been an international leader in the field of sport science, and many elite athletes owe their success at least partly to innovations pioneered by our researchers,” said Professor Sue Harrison, deputy vice-chancellor for Research and Internationalisation.

“We owe our impressive standing in this ranking to this committed team of researchers, scientists, and eager postgraduates at the Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS),” Professor Harrison added.  “At the same time, HPALS is increasingly focused on its work with communities, addressing the many non-communicable diseases that arise from lack of access to physical activity and a healthy diet. This type of work is generally not reflected in rankings but is equally important.”
 
“UCT has long been an international leader in the field of sports science, and many elite athletes owe their success at least partly to innovations pioneered by our researchers.”

The ranking’s 2023 methodology assesses universities according to several indicators, including papers indexed in Web of Science (10%), total citations (20%), citations per paper (30%), papers published in the top 25% of journals (30%), and the percentage of papers with international co-authorship (10%).

“We are fortunate to collaborate with outstanding colleagues, locally, nationally, and globally. We are a small, committed, and passionate group of researchers who strive to make a difference in human health, mobility and performance,” said Professor Vicki Lambert, the outgoing director of HPALS.

In 2023, UCT performed strongly once again and is leading in Africa in all five major world university rankings: Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), the Shanghai Ranking’s Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) and the US News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings.

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INSIDE EDUCATION REPORTER

THE direction to be considered in transforming the landscape of education in Africa, especially the need for innovative strategies such as integrating technology into education and revising curricula, is imperative said the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, when sharing her insights at a high-level conference on decolonisation in Johannesburg.

“These strategies can help bridge gaps exposed by recent crises and align with broader Sustainable Development Goals. It is a call to action to rethink and restructure educational frameworks in an equitable, inclusive and forward-thinking manner. By standing together and
pooling our resources and expertise, we can recover from current setbacks and build stronger, more enduring educational foundations for future generations in Africa,” she said.

Motshekga added that the journey towards building resilient education systems begins with a focus on Early Childhood Education (ECE). “According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), investing in Early Childhood Development (ECD) is highly efficient and effective for achieving equitable, sustainable growth,” she said.

Motshekga was speaking at the 10th Education International Africa Regional (EIRAF) Conference held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg last month.

The Conference, which is a platform for the South African Government to share recent developments in the Basic Education Sector, as well as future plans around education reform, was attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by Basic Education Deputy Minister, Dr
Reginah Mhaule, with delegates from across the African continent.

Also present were Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane; Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Cllr Kabelo Gwamanda; Education International President, Susan Hopgood; Education International General-Secretary, Dr David Edwards; Education International African
Region Chairperson, Dr Christian Addai-Poku; Education International Africa Director, Dr Dennis Sinyolo; the President of the South African Democratic Teacher Union (SADTU), Magope Maphila; and SADTU General-Secretary, Mungwena Maluleka.

During the Conference, participants were afforded an opportunity to share common goals in terms of transforming and strengthening education systems in Africa under the theme, “Standing Together for Resilient Education Systems in Times of Crisis”.

Deputy Minister Mhaule stated that education systems should be robust enough to maintain continuity of learning in the face of adversity, yet sufficiently agile to evolve in response to new challenges and opportunities.

“This balance between steadfastness and adaptability is crucial in ensuring that our education systems can survive and thrive in times of crises.

In our deliberations, we must factor the educational aspirations that are articulated as guiding pillars of UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030; as well as the African Union’s Continental Education Strategy for Africa, 2016-2025. These two frameworks are intended to reorient education systems of the world to meet the knowledge; competencies; skills; innovations; and creativity for a changing world, whilst promoting sustainable development.”

In his address, President Ramaphosa said that the decolonisation of education on the African continent has been long overdue. “The discussions at this Conference, focusing on tackling racism; decolonising education and promoting democracy; human rights; and trade union rights, are vital. We must challenge colonial theories and practices to build resilient education systems that are centred on African perspectives and experiences.

This requires a shift away from a Eurocentric worldview to embrace a more diverse and inclusive perspective. We must acknowledge and value the knowledge systems of all people and integrate them into our curricula and knowledge selection processes. The responsibility to nurture and defend the right to education extends to all spheres of society.”

President Ramaphosa considers education as the cornerstone upon which societies build their future. “Through education, we cultivate respect for human rights, the rule of law and the principles of democracy. As the work of the UN High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession demonstrates, the adaptation of education systems to a rapidly changing world is one of the most important tasks facing us. This panel draws expertise from diverse stakeholders, including

ministers of education; labour representatives; teacher unions; and civil society organisations. It underscores the importance of educators’ voices in finding solutions to educational challenges.”

The President added that educators play a fundamental and irreplaceable role in shaping societies, and their insights are invaluable in the quest for sustainable solutions. Curriculum reform that responds to the changing world of work is another vital task.

“In South Africa, we are on the brink of significant educational reform with the implementation of the Coding and Robotics curriculum from Grade R to Grade 9. This initiative is part of our broader strategy to integrate STEM subjects into our education system. By doing so, we aim to equip our learners with the digital skills necessary to thrive in a fast-paced world. Labour movements, civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations in the educational sphere must collaborate to protect this critical space. Through such partnerships, we can prepare our learners to be active, informed citizens in democratic societies. The role of organisations such as Education International are vital. As advocates for quality education, your mission is to ensure inclusive and equitable learning opportunities for all,” concluded the President.

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