By Johnathan Paoli

The recent appointment of Yali Joyi as the chief financial officer of the KwaZulu-Natal education department has triggered a political and public outcry.

Major teacher unions and opposition parties are demanding her suspension and a full investigation into her past conduct at the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).

The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in KwaZulu-Natal has condemned Joyi’s appointment, calling it “reckless, negligent and potentially catastrophic for a department already plagued by financial instability.”

“It is now public knowledge that Ms Joyi resigned from CoGTA under a cloud of damning allegations, including gross financial mismanagement and embezzlement. We find it deeply concerning that someone with unresolved allegations is appointed to a post with such significant fiscal responsibility,” Sadtu KZN secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said this week.

The union noted that while it respected the legal principle that a person was innocent until proven guilty, Joyi’s resignation before facing a disciplinary hearing raised serious questions.

“She chose to resign rather than clear her name. We are demanding to see the investigation report and expect the Department of Education to confirm that she was not implicated before confirming her appointment,” Caluza said.

Until this happens, Sadtu has rejected the appointment outright and is demanding that Joyi be placed on special leave or suspended.

The union also intends to meet education MEC Sipho Hlomuka and HOD Nkosinathi Ngcobo. It also plans to approach the Public Service Commission and the Public Protector to launch independent investigations into the matter.

Joyi was suspended from CoGTA in September last year, along with two other senior officials, after being implicated in procurement-related corruption that allegedly took place in the lead up to the May 2024 general elections.

She formally resigned in January, citing the emotional and health toll the matter had taken on her and her family.

In her resignation letter, Joyi insisted that her departure was “not an admission of guilt”, but said she was stepping down “out of expediency”.

Her resignation effectively halted the internal disciplinary process, leaving questions about her culpability unanswered.

Despite the questions surrounding her exit, the KZN education department offered her the CFO position in a letter dated 7 May 2025, signed by Hlomuka.

The letter, which has since been leaked to the media, does include a clause stating that the department reserves the right to withdraw the appointment if new information comes to light or if there is a dispute regarding the post.

The education department has yet to publicly justify the appointment, despite escalating scrutiny.

The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa has also raised objections, with spokesperson Thirona Moodley stating: “This is the largest education department in the country. The integrity of a CFO must be beyond reproach and that is not the case here. The department must explain how it came to this decision.”

The Democratic Alliance has taken a more combative stance.

DA education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi said the party has given Hlomuka five working days to reverse the appointment or face legal and political consequences.

“Instead of being held to account, Ms Joyi has been rewarded with another top government job in a department that’s already facing serious budgetary constraints and service delivery failures. This is cadre deployment, political shielding, and a betrayal of public trust,” Mngadi said.

The DA confirmed it would lodge formal complaints with the Premier’s Office, the Public Service Commission and the Public Protector, and is exploring legal remedies under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act.

Mngadi also pointed to the Public Finance Management Act and Public Service Act, which both emphasise ethical and merit-based appointments and disqualify individuals with unresolved allegations of financial misconduct from senior public roles.

The uproar comes at a time when the department is grappling with deep-rooted governance challenges, including infrastructure backlogs, delays in textbook delivery, unpaid service providers and a litany of qualified audit findings from the Auditor-General.

The department is facing a serious cash flow crisis, and teacher unions have repeatedly warned that failing to restore financial credibility could further destabilise the education system.

Hlomuka dismissed concerns surrounding the appointment of Joyi, insisting that she is suitably qualified and that all due processes were followed.

“The person you are talking about is a person who has performed very well, even in previous institutions. She is one of the best financial managers in the managers,” he said.

Hlomuka said the appointment was endorsed by the provincial cabinet, and that no official report from the CoGTA investigation had been received.

He assured that appropriate action would be taken should Joyi be found guilty of any wrongdoing.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoi

Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has unveiled a series of ambitious investments aimed at building a skilled, empowered generation of South Africans.

Addressing hundreds of beneficiaries, academics, artisans and future researchers in attendance at the National Skills Fund (NSF) Beneficiaries Budget Vote Breakfast at Northlink College’s Protea Campus, Nkabane used the platform to reaffirm the department’s commitment to expanding access to post-school education and tackling the country’s critical and scarce skills shortages.

“Our presence here today is not just symbol; it is a celebration of your resilience and an affirmation of our government’s commitment to education as a vehicle for change. We are here to honour your commitment, and we are positive that out of this, more young people will be motivated to grab the opportunities made available by the government to transform not only their own lives, but their communities and families too,” Nkabane said.

The minister announced that for the 2025 academic year, the National Skills Fund had allocated R3 billion through its Bursaries Directorate to fund students studying qualifications listed as critical or scarce skills at public higher learning institutions.

The funding targets deserving students from quintile one and two schools in disadvantaged communities. It recently expanded to support the “missing middle”, who are students whose household income ranges between R350,000 and R650,000 annually.

“We are actively addressing the funding gap by implementing the Missing Middle Funding Policy approved in 2024,” Nkabane explained.

The minister highlighted the growing international reach of South Africa’s scholarship programmes.

Through collaboration with the Department’s International Scholarships Directorate, over 300 students are now studying abroad in countries including Hungary, Mauritius, Russia, China, Ireland, Serbia and Germany, supported by bilateral agreements.

“These students are studying advanced fields such as nuclear engineering, artificial intelligence, cyber technology, and aeronautical engineering. Through our University Capacity Development Programme, we’re building the next generation of academics — the pipeline for 5000 PhDs a year envisioned by the National Development Plan,” Nkabane said.

She also noted that R254 million had been allocated to support over 1500 postgraduate students (Honours to Post-Doctoral), in partnership with the National Research Foundation to expand South Africa’s research and innovation ecosystem.

In a nod to inclusive growth, the minister revealed that the NSF had allocated R241 million to support 1966 students at South Africa’s 11 agricultural colleges, offering short and full-length training in farming and agri-business skills.

“This initiative boosts food security and economic opportunity in rural areas. It has a multiplier effect of empowering communities and promoting sustainability,” Nkabane said.

Deputy director-general for TVET colleges, Sam Zungu, praised the inspiring testimonies of students in attendance.

“We echo the minister’s sentiments, today reminded us why we must never relent in our commitment to youth development. Listening to students’ stories reminds us how far we’ve come and affirms the critical role they play in shaping our economy. To our young people: stay the course. We are with you,” Zungu said.

He called for more frequent engagements like the breakfast event, noting that these spaces allowed the government to showcase its work and be reminded of the powerful impact young South Africans are making.

Deputy director-general for skills development, Zukile Mvalo, echoed this optimism, calling the NSF “a catalyst for change”.

He stressed the fund’s transformational role in empowering communities, while also cautioning against ongoing social challenges.

“We must also confront issues like gender-based violence on campuses. By listening to students and working together, we can make progress. Every artisan trained and learner funded brings us closer to a stronger, fairer South Africa,” Mvalo said.

Nkabane reaffirmed her department’s mission of investing in young people and opening every door possible for them to actively participate in building the economy.

She urged the beneficiaries to become “ambassadors of change”, educating others about opportunities offered by the state.

“We rely on you to spread the word about what is possible when we work together to unlock potential,” she said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The Higher Education and Training Department has unveiled its 2025/26 budget vote, reaffirming its commitment to building an inclusive, equitable and responsive post-school education and training (PSET) system tailored to the needs of South Africa’s youth and national development.

Minister Nobuhle Nkabane presented the R142.7 billion allocation amid a challenging funding environment, following the abrupt cessation of the United States support to South African universities and researchers, which affected half of the country’s 26 public universities.

The department’s budget has increased by an average of 4.4% annually in nominal terms for the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period.

“Our commitment remains steadfast: to build a post-school education and training system that is inclusive, equitable and responsive to the needs of our young people and our nation,” Nkabane said.

The minister highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, including the completion of phase one of the University of North-West’s Mining Campus by 2030 and the refurbishment of the former Giyani College of Education into a state-of-the-art Tshwane University of Technology campus, set to welcome its first students in 2026.

She praised the government’s efforts to expand access and modernise facilities, particularly in underserved regions.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges received a boosted budget of R14 billion for 2025/26, up from R13.1 billion the previous year, with projections of R14.7 billion next year.

The government is committed to repositioning TVET as a first-choice pathway, combating long-standing perceptions of vocational training as a “backup plan.”

The National Skills Fund (NSF) and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) have a combined budget of R26 billion this year, rising to R27.8 billion to accelerate artisan development.

The National Apprenticeship and Artisan Development Strategy aims to produce 30,000 qualified artisans annually by 2030, with 20,000 targeted in 2025/26.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) budget increases from R48.7 billion in 2024/25 to R51 billion in 2025/26, further rising to R53.4 billion in 2027.

NSFAS currently supports over 811,000 students, including 580,000 university and 231,000 TVET learners.

Nkabane stressed the appointment of a new NSFAS board led by Karen Stender, emphasising a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and maladministration.

Key reform priorities include organisational redesign, loan management, sustainable funding models, student accommodation policies and digital transformation initiatives to harmonise ICT infrastructure across institutions.

In response to court rulings requiring termination of contracts with fintech intermediaries and costly lease agreements, NSFAS is decentralising operations to improve accessibility and financial efficiency. The department is also investigating student accommodation intermediaries charging excessive fees.

Recognising high youth unemployment, the department has set ambitious targets for workplace-based learning – 90,000 opportunities for 2025/26, and 500,000 over the medium term.

These include learnerships, internships and work-integrated learning.

The National Skills Fund will also fund 1000 beneficiaries under Just Energy Transition skills programmes, covering a broad range of occupations to support South Africa’s transition to a greener economy.

South Africa’s assumption of the 2025 G20 Presidency places the department at the forefront of international education collaboration.

It is leading the G20 Education Working Group alongside Basic Education, hosting key meetings in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces.

Priority areas include foundational learning, mutual recognition of qualifications and professional development for changing global contexts.

To adapt to evolving higher education challenges, the department is reviewing and amending key statutes including the Higher Education and Training Act, Continuing Education and Training Act, NSFAS Act, and Skills Development Act.

These reforms aim to improve system efficiency, coordination and responsiveness to 21st-century demands.

Mpumalanga education MEC Cathy Dlamini endorsed the budget, calling it “progressive” and essential for expanding vocational training and higher education access in her province.

She linked the budget to the Youth Month theme, emphasising skills development for meaningful economic participation and applauded the province’s efforts to boost technical schools and improve matric results.

ANC Limpopo MP Malesela Mokwele described the R142.7 billion allocation as a “moral imperative,” focusing on skills development, job creation and transformation of rural and historically disadvantaged institutions.

He highlighted efforts to increase university lecturers with doctoral degrees and boost research capacity.

In a robust response to opposition criticism, Nkabane asserted that rejecting the budget was tantamount to opposing transformation in the PSET sector.

She emphasised the department’s commitment to rooting out corruption and maladministration, clarifying financial management details and NSFAS reforms.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Levy Masiteng

The Gauteng department of education (GDE) has urged the national Basic Education Department to fast track its verification process of education and general assistants to ensure that they are paid without further delay.

“The DBE acknowledged that their new centralised payment system introduced for Phase V is experiencing challenges such as verifying candidate ID numbers against the Department of Home Affairs database, matching those ID numbers and names to the correct bank account details and resolving discrepancies where candidate data does not align with application data on the SAYouth platform,” GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said on Tuesday.

He said that while the DBE had indicated that these processes were intended to strengthen accountability and reduce the risk of fraud, they have caused widespread delay in releasing payments to some candidates, including in Gauteng.

This follows the GDE warning that about 8000 assistants in Gauteng were facing potential delays in their first payment cycle. 

“We remain hopeful that the DBE will fast-track and conclude their verification processes to ensure that all youth employed at our schools are paid without any further delay,” Mabona said in a statement.

He said Gauteng’s data verification was largely completed and validated at school and district level, however, some assistants “remain affected by this delay due to the DBE national centralisation of the payment process”.

The assistants were placed at schools from 1 June as part of the Basic Education Employment Initiative, which is aimed at supporting teaching and learning at schools.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The Democratic Alliance has laid criminal charges against Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, accusing her of lying to Parliament and facilitating African National Congress cadre deployment in key public institutions.

DA MP and national spokesperson Karabo Khakhau, who submitted the charges, accused Nkabane of misleading Parliament about the appointment process for board chairpersons of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

“This is not a case of poor judgment, it is a flagrant and deliberate attempt to deceive Parliament and the South African people. Minister Nkabane has broken the law, violated her oath of office and enabled the continued abuse of public resources to benefit ANC loyalists,” Khakhau said on Tuesday.

The charges, filed at the Cape Town Central Police Station, mark an escalation in the DA’s campaign against what it calls “systemic corruption” under the ANC-led Government of National Unity (GNU).

According to Khakhau, the minister falsely claimed that the appointments were made by an “independent evaluation panel”.

In reality, the panel included her own staff members and political allies, including her chief of staff and a leader of the ANC Youth League.

The most damning evidence cited by the DA is Nkabane’s earlier claim that renowned senior counsel Terry Motau chaired the panel.

Motau has since submitted a formal written denial, stating he neither led nor participated in the process.

In line with the criminal complaint, the DA announced that it would vote against the Higher Education and Training Department’s budget, arguing that it could not in good conscience endorse R19 billion in expenditure under the leadership of a minister who is “under criminal investigation”.

The party also indicated it would oppose other department budgets led by ANC ministers it viewed as complicit in corruption, including those of Thembi Simelane, David Mahlobo and Deputy President Paul Mashatile.

DA federal chairperson Helen Zille joined Khakhau at the police station where she criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa for failing to act against Nkabane.

“This is a blatant double standard, Minister Nkabane misled Parliament which is a criminal offence. Yet she remains in Cabinet, while DA Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield was dismissed for a procedural travel matter. Ramaphosa punishes loyalty, but protects criminality,” Zille said.

Khakhau previously held that the party had already lodged complaints with Parliament’s Ethics Committee and the Public Protector, calling the criminal case “step three” of a coordinated plan that began in May.

“We’ve exhausted internal mechanisms, the president has made his priorities clear and the ANC has given marching orders to shield their own. If Parliament won’t act, the DA will,” she said.

The controversy over the SETA appointments comes as Nkabane faces growing pressure from civil society, particularly student organisations.

The South African Students Congress (Sasco) has accused the minister of appointing an “illegally constituted” NSFAS board earlier this year and failing to comply with basic governance provisions in the NSFAS Act.

According to Sasco, the board lacks required representatives from student bodies and the National Treasury, which raises concerns over financial oversight and democratic participation.

“Her attempt to co-opt students after the fact is not only illegal, but also an insult to participatory governance,” Sasco president Alungile Kamtshe said on Sunday.

Sasco has issued a deadline for Nkabane to reconstitute the board by Friday or face legal action and national student protests beginning 1 August.

The student organisation has also decried chronic delays in NSFAS allowances and the student housing crisis, blaming the minister for “structural violence against the working class”.

Experts say the criminal charges could have serious legal consequences if prosecuted.

Under the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, knowingly misleading Parliament can amount to fraud with precedent in the case of former ANC MP Tony Yengeni, who was convicted in 2003.

The DA has framed its actions not as GNU sabotage, but as a necessary stand against corruption.

“We joined the GNU to fight corruption, not to enable it,” Khakhau said.

Nkabane’s office declined to comment, citing ongoing legal processes.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has written to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) following allegations of irregular, wasteful and potentially fraudulent expenditure amounting to at least R145 million paid to private student accommodation intermediaries.

EFF Higher Education Portfolio Committee member Sihle Lozi wrote a letter to NSFAS acting CEO Waseem Carrim asking for the details of the contracts.

“These questions go to the heart of transparency, legal compliance and financial accountability. Given the public interest and the scale of taxpayer funding involved, we trust that you will treat this matter with the utmost seriousness and urgency,” Lozi said.

The revelations, which were raised during a parliamentary sitting, have sparked renewed concerns over governance, transparency and accountability within the embattled scheme.

The controversy centres on four private companies contracted by NSFAS to facilitate student accommodation services and process payments to landlords.

According to figures presented by Carrim, the companies collectively charged a 5% transaction fee on all disbursements, resulting in R145 million in commissions from R2.9 billion disbursed in 2024 alone.

However, this figure could be significantly higher when calculated over the full R14 billion that NSFAS spends annually on student housing.

In the letter, Lonzi raised alarm at the growing crisis of defunded students, unresolved appeals and chronic delays in disbursements that have plagued the higher education sector for years.

Of particular concern are whistleblower allegations that the four intermediaries were never legally authorised to disburse payments to landlords, but allegedly assumed the role without formal contractual amendment or proper regulatory approval.

The EFF has demanded that NSFAS furnish answers to eight questions. They include the full legal identities of the four companies involved, whether their original contracts permitted them to manage financial transactions, a copy of each contract, including dates of award, scope, and payment terms, the total amount paid to each provider since the inception of their contracts, proof of valid Financial Services Provider (FSP) licences for each company, and details of the categories of services they are authorised to perform.

The situation has drawn significant attention due to the broader issues plaguing NSFAS, which has repeatedly faced accusations of mismanagement, corruption and failure to deliver essential support to qualifying students.

Earlier this year, the scheme came under fire over its direct payment system, which had already been marred by delays, system errors and complaints from students and landlords alike.

Despite repeated interventions and leadership changes, including the appointment of Carrim as acting CEO following a governance shake-up, critics say the problems have persisted and worsened.

In Parliament, Carrim confirmed the 5% commission model, justifying it as a standard facilitation fee.

With millions of rands potentially at stake, and thousands of students left in limbo, the EFF has warned that it would seek court intervention if satisfactory responses were not provided by the deadline of 9 July.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The Democratic Alliance will lay charges against Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane on Tuesday for allegedly lying to Parliament over the appointment of an “independent panel” to select board chairpersons for Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

“While the president continues to take no action against African National Congress (ANC) corruption in the national executive, the DA will use every means we can to fight it,” the party said.

The charges will be laid at the Cape Town Central Police Station, just hours before Nkabane’s budget debate in the National Council of Provinces.

The DA contends that the ministers’ conduct constitutes a serious breach of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act and the Powers and Privileges of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act.

The party alleges that Nkabane misled Parliament about the composition, independence and appointment process of the panel that selected the SETA board chairs.

The party said this was a textbook example of cadre deployment disguised as independent oversight. It accused Nkabane of not only misleading Parliament, but also insulting the public’s intelligence by pretending the panel was impartial.

This latest move comes as tensions rise in the Government of National Unity following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s dismissal of DA trade and industry deputy minister Andrew Whitfield.

Ramaphosa removed Whitfield for failing to follow proper procedures regarding an international trip.

In protest, the DA withdrew from the National Dialogue over the weekend and has threatened to hold “corrupt” ANC ministers to account by voting against their budgets.

Speaking before the launch of a training centre at the South West Gauteng TVET College in Soweto, Nkabane told reporters it was the prerogative of Ramaphosa to redeploy members of his executive.

“It is the prerogative of the president to appoint or redeploy ministers. I cannot speak for that. But as a department, we remain focused on our work and are ready to present our budget vote in both the NCOP and the National Assembly,” she said.

Nkabane acknowledged that her department had made missteps in appointing senior counsel Terry Tlou as the chair of the independent panel without full legal vetting.

“I’m not a legal person; we didn’t realise the implications of appointing a legal practitioner under certain conditions. I sent an apology to Advocate Tlou last week, and he accepted,” she said.

Nkabane confirmed that she had received correspondence from Parliament’s Ethics Committee and would respond on Wednesday.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to repositioning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges as a driving force for economic transformation, youth empowerment and the reindustrialisation of South Africa.

Nkabane officially opened the Mechanical Fitter and Fitter and Turner Workshops and Trade Test Centres at the South West Gauteng TVET College’s (SWGC) Molapo Campus in Soweto on Monday.

“South West Gauteng TVET College is a shining example of how technical and vocational training can be repositioned as a first choice for various careers of our young people. Today’s launch demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that institutions do not only train for qualifications, but train for jobs, for economic participation and for dignity,” the minister said.

The opening, held on the last day of Youth Month, celebrated both the legacy of the 1976 generation and the government’s ongoing efforts to equip today’s youth with practical skills that fuel economic growth.

Nkabane described the new facility as a beacon of hope and a model of excellence that supported skills development, youth employment and inclusive economic participation.

“An artisan is not a backup plan; an artisan is the backbone of a thriving 21st-century economy. TVET institutions are not just places of learning, but engines of socio-economic transformation,” Nkabane declared.

The new trade test centres and workshops are part of the department’s Centres of Specialisation Programme. The flagship initiative is aimed at increasing the quality and relevance of artisan development.

In 2024, the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education Training Authority invested over R19 million to refurbish and equip the facilities to global occupational standards.

“This project is a testament to what is possible when government, industry and education institutions work together. These partnerships ensure that our youth are not just trained for qualifications, but trained for jobs and for dignity,” Nkabane said.

The centre aims to directly contribute to the National Development Plan’s goal of producing 30,000 qualified artisans annually by 2030.

According to the South African TVET Student Association (SATVETSA), the country currently produces approximately 20,000 artisans per year, a figure that must grow rapidly to meet national industrial and infrastructure demands.

SATVETSA president Kgaogelo Chokoe said in her message of support that TVET colleges needed to evolve into “hubs of collaboration and innovation”, which responded to global and local industry trends.

“We must forge partnerships that enhance learning and create real pathways to employment and entrepreneurship,” she said.

The minister praised the college for its continued success in developing artisans.

Since 2020, the college has trained over 190 qualified artisans through a strategic partnership with Thuthukisa and Afrox, backed by Food and Beverages SETA.

In addition, more than 180 learners have successfully passed their trade tests via the Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning programme supported by a combined investment exceeding R17 million.

In 2025, the Local Government SETA awarded the college over R53 million to implement 19 occupational programmes in trades such as welding, bricklaying, electrical and business studies, including learner stipends.

Furthering international exposure and innovation, a Tripartite Memorandum of Agreement between the college, Energy and Water SETA and the Chinese Culture and International Education Exchange Centre will send nine apprentices and one facilitator to Energy Power College in China.

They will undergo specialised training in renewable energy technologies, including solar panels, lithium batteries and inverter manufacturing.

The workshops and trade test centres are expected to empower hundreds of young South Africans each year, offering not only certification but meaningful pathways to permanent employment and entrepreneurship.

Drawing parallels to the youth of 1976, who fought for access to education, the minister said that today’s young people deserved not only access, but opportunity, quality, and empowerment.

She reminded attendees that Soweto remained a powerful symbol of resistance, renewal and now technical transformation.

“You are not just the leaders of tomorrow; you are the builders of today. Let this centre produce artisans who will rebuild our economy, fix our infrastructure and innovate for a sustainable future,” she said.

Nkabane described the Molapo Campus as a national model for excellence in vocational education and industry aligned training.

“Let this be a legacy of empowerment, not only for the youth of Soweto, but for Gauteng and South Africa at large,” she said.

Video by Kgalalelo Setlhare Mogapi.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lungile Ntimba

KwaZulu-Natal education MEC Sipho Hlomuka has encouraged learners, particularly those in Grade 12, to make the most of the winter school holidays by participating in academic support programmes.

“I urge our matriculants to take advantage of the winter programmes made available by the KZN department of education in the 12 districts across the province of KwaZulu-Natal” said Hlomuka.

“These programmes are tailored to help our Grade 12 learners consolidate their learning and boost their academic performance ahead of the final examinations.”

He praised both learners and educators for their hard work and determination during the first half of the 2025 academic year.

Recognising that many learners may travel during the holidays, Hlomuka encouraged them to remain focused and continue prioritising their studies, regardless of their location.

“Those that are away from their schools are encouraged to wear their school uniforms and attend winter classes closer to their holiday destinations,” he added.

The MEC assured the public that winter school classes were accessible and supported by experienced educators in strategic locations throughout the province.

Hlomuka said that these initiatives formed part of the province’s broader commitment to improving learner outcomes and ensuring that no child was left behind.

He wished all learners and educators a safe, restful and productive holiday season, urging parents and guardians to support their children’s learning journeys during this crucial time.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Shannon D. M. Moore and Jennifer Watt

The sexual assault trial of five former World Juniors hockey players has spotlighted issues around sexual assault and consent.

Sexual assault, intimate partner violence and other forms of gender-based violence aren’t inevitable. Kindergarten to Grade 12 public schools have an ethical obligation to enact sexuality education that is responsive to current contexts, respects human diversity, empowers young people and is rooted in human rights.

We argue for harnessing popular media to advance sexuality education. Children and youth learn about a great deal about gender, relationships, sexuality and consent from popular media.

Although there is strong theoretical rationale for using popular media to confront sexual assault, many teachers identify and experience barriers to putting this into practice in their classrooms.

Let’s (not) talk about sex?

Many factors shape the reality that comprehensive sex education remains wholly absent or inadequate in schools.

Talking about sex in society and in schools is often taboo. Discussions of healthy relationships and consent are often highly controlled, minimized or relegated to a sexual education curriculum that is not universally taught. This is due to parental opt-outs/ins in many provinces.

Some opponents of sexual education curriculum say parents should have full authority over the subject. Others exploit misunderstandings of age appropriateness and the presumed innocence of children and youth. Among the public at large, there is a lack of knowledge (or belief) about the high rates of sexual assault and other forms of gender-based violence experienced by youth within and beyond schools

Not surprisingly, neglecting comprehensive sexuality education has many adverse consequences. Students learn that eliminating sexual violence is not a societal priority. Those who have experienced assault and other forms of violence learn that they are not important, as their stories are often silenced, ignored or distrusted.

As a result, rape culture and gender-based violence remains unchallenged in schools, while it is normalized, legitimized and endorsed in popular media.

Meet your child’s other teacher

In the absence or confines of comprehensive sex education in schools, youth identify popular media as their main source of information about sex and relationships.

As professor of criminal justice, Nickie D. Phillips, writes, popular media is one of the “primary sites through which rape culture [is] understood, negotiated and contested.”

What youth watch, play, listen to or create on social media has a significant role in teaching dominant understandings that normalize sexual violence, misogyny and the patriarchy.

Critical media scholars Michael Hoechsmann and Stuart Poyntz emphasize that popular media “plays a central role in the socialization, acculturation and intellectual formation of young people. It is a … force to be reckoned with, and we ignore it at our peril.”

As teacher educators and educational researchers, the teachers we have worked with across grades and subject areas recognize how popular media is always and already present in classrooms, and many embrace the opportunities it affords for necessary conversations that are relevant to students.

Challenges with using popular media

The teacher participants in our study revealed that classroom culture wars have had a chilling impact on their practice, making them feel more wary about tackling particular topics.

We found that despite research-informed rationale for using popular media to ground sexuality education, teachers encounter several barriers and complications in doing so.

Teachers’ discomfort was exacerbated when school leaders did not support their efforts to advance these lessons, even though they were anchored to the provincial curriculum. Teacher participants also spoke of a lack of professional development or preparation to talk about healthy relationships and consent in teacher education contexts.

Finally, they also raised concerns about teaching with and through violent, sexually suggestive or explicit popular media in classrooms. This is the case even though young people are learning about sex through limitless access to digital pornography and R-rated popular media outside of classrooms.

Influencing healthy relationships

There is limited research about how popular media content could be used to teach about sexual violence prevention. Through our ongoing research, we have identified several starting points for using popular media content to ground conversations about healthy relationships, boundaries and consent.

1. Start with media constructions of gender: As popular media contributes to societal expectations of gender, students should begin by interrogating how masculinities and femininities are constructed and mobilized in popular media.

This can include examining how male, female and non-binary characters are constructed and presented to audiences, their position within the broader storyline and their level of dialogue and how varied intersections of identity impact these depictions.

Discussions of gender based violence must begin with intersectional discussions of gender, as these constructions contribute to the issue (for example, the hypersexualization and subordination of females, the exoticization and dehumanization of racialized women or the portrayal of males as powerful, aggressive and preoccupied with sex).

2. Begin with unfamiliar content: Students can initially become defensive when they are asked to critically engage with media content that deeply connect with their identity and give them a sense of joy.

While the goal is to move to the interrogation of students’ own media diets, it can positively generate student participation when educators begin analytical and critical discussions about media with unfamiliar, or at least not cherished, material (like popular songs, video or social media).

This means students learn how to analyze content before connecting this analysis with themes related to gender-based violence, like: how popular media normalizes sexual violence against women and promotes unhealthy representations of romance and relationships; how popular media contributes to victim blaming or siding with perpetrators and promotes “himpathy” for males who commit sexual assault.

3. Offer a feminist lens: As teacher educators, we recognize that there is no single method or approach that tends to every aspect of sexual assault and other forms of gender-based violence. Yet, we also know that educators seek resources to engage more meaningfully with students.

Cards to foster conversation

We constructed a deck of educational playing cards that educators can use to foster conversations about media portrayals of gender, healthy relationships and consent (or lack thereof).

These cards employ a feminist lens, based on Sarah Ahmed’s Living a Feminist Life. We advocate for teachers to have time in professional learning spaces to try out the cards with other educators before they facilitate complex conversations related to gender-based violence with students.

If as a society we want to see fewer instances of gender-based violence, teachers need provincial curriculum documents that align with the research on comprehensive sex education. They also need school leaders who will support their work and model consent in the broader school culture, and more professional development and preparation in teacher education.

Shannon D.M. Moore is an assistant professor of social studies education, Department of Curriculum Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba and Jennifer Watt is Associate Professor of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, University of Manitoba.

The Conversation