By Levy Masiteng

Curro Durbanville High School is extending an invitation to high schools across the country to participate in the “Nou Praat Jy!” public speaking competition. 

The closing date for entries is 24 April.

Joline de Klerk, an Afrikaans teacher at school, said this competition was open to Afrikaans Home Language Speakers and Afrikaans First Additional Language Speakers in two categories – juniors (Grade 8-9) and seniors (Grade 10-12). 

Teams of two will have 5-7 minutes to present their speeches, which can be persuasive, entertaining or motivational in style.

The competition is set to take place on June 25-26 at Curro Durbanville High School

The theme of the competition is “Afrikaans – ‘n taal van kleure en klank,” celebrating 100 years of Afrikaans as an official language. 

“We are looking forward to lekker conversational dialogue. Additionally, we keep our fingers crossed that teams bring regional languages and dialects of Afrikaans to the stage. We hope they come and talk like they talk at home,” said Afrikaans teachers Joline de Klerk and Maritsa Smit.

The winning school and winners will receive R10,000 each, while the runners-up will receive R6,000 each, and the third-place winners R4,000 each.

According to the school, the “Nou Praat Jy!” public speaking competition is part of the Kultura Festival, a vibrant celebration of art, music and culture. 

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Pedro Adalid Ruíz

In the modern world, screens are everywhere, from our classrooms and workplaces to our homes and pockets. For children and teenagers, they can be a window to learning, enjoyment and connection with the world. Too much screen time, however, can have serious consequences.

Adults spend, on average, between six and seven hours per day in front of screens. In Spain, like much of Europe, children and teenagers spend more than three hours per day looking at screens, though this figure can double at weekends.

Such intense exposure has obvious problems, such as taking time from other beneficial activities like sport or socialising in person. It also has negative health impacts, ranging from from short-sightedness, headaches and musculoskeletal disorders to shorter attention spans and delays in the development of children’s problem solving and communication skills.

Beyond the impacts of social media on young people’s mental health, the ubiquity of screens is prompting many families and teachers to wonder whether education without technology, or at least with less screen time, would be better.

However, we also need to teach children how to deal with the internet and how to work with technology. Training young people in digital skills, such as critical thinking and cybersecurity, is essential to keeping them safe online.

In addition, digital platforms such as Google Classroom, Duolingo and Kahoot! have revolutionised learning, making it both more convenient and more personalised in the classroom and at home.

Balance is possible

Schools around the world are finding ways to balance the risks and benefits of technology in the classroom. One inspiring success story is that of a school in Finland that implemented a hybrid model combining digital learning with hands-on activities. As a result, students improved their academic performance and developed advanced technological skills.

Other successful examples – such as the “Abraza tus valores” (Embrace your values) and “Párate a pensar” (Stop to think) programmes by Aldeas Infantiles SOS in Spain – promote the balanced use of technology among young people.

The United States also boasts programmes such as that developed by The Step by Step School. This initiative emphasises the moderate and purposeful use of technology by incorporating educational apps that support children’s development and encourage creativity, setting clear limits for screen time, and promoting off-device activities such as outdoor play and hands-on projects.

A question of equity

Screens can provide access to knowledge and make our lives easier, but we cannot allow them to become a substitute for real human experiences. Digital education should be complemented by activities that develop social, emotional and physical skills.

The solution to excessive screen use is not saying goodbye to technology in the classroom altogether. Ignoring these technological tools in education would deprive students of the skills they need to function in an increasingly interconnected world. Instead, we have to make sure they are used to their full potential.

In Spain, 70% of children between the ages of 10 and 15 own a smartphone, with similar or higher figures reported across the EU. While these figures are high, they only give us half of the picture. Smartphones are tools, and like any tool, knowing how to use it properly and safely is vital.

Children, like many adults, use the internet and social media uncritically. Being mere consumers of what the internet offers can seriously limit their capacity for social integration.

This aspect of the digital divide is where schools can level the playing field by providing access to technological resources and promoting equity of opportunity. By implementing digital literacy programmes, they can ensure that all students, regardless of their socio-economic background, have an equal opportunity to succeed.

This is a collective challenge, and parents, teachers and young people must all work together to build healthy, conscious habits. To do this, we have to answer crucial questions about how we use our time in front of screens, and how we can reap technology’s benefits without falling prey to its risks. At the end of the day, the goal is not to live without screens, but to learn to live with them in a smart way.

By Pedro Adalid Ruíz

Pedro Adalid Ruíz is Profesor Universitario de Políticas de Calidad Educativa y Planes de Mejora, Universidad CEU San Pablo.

The Conversation

By Akani Nkuna

The Democratic Alliance has issued a call to action amid the deepening financial crisis within KwaZulu-Natal’s education department.

With budget constraints threatening critical services, the party is urging provincial leaders to put aside political differences and personal agendas.

The DA insists that the welfare and future of learners must come first, warning that continued mismanagement could severely impact education delivery across the province.

“Two issues in particular expose the devastating mismanagement that continues to define this department – the halting of critical infrastructure projects by the province’s department of public works and infrastructure due to non-payment and the looming threat of salary payment crisis that could leave thousands of educators unpaid,” KZN education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi said in a statement on Friday.

Following a February oversight visit by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, provincial education HOD Nkosinathi Ngcobo revealed that the province’s education crisis deepened after the National Treasury failed to allocate extra funds for public sector wage hikes.

Speaking to Inside Education last month, Ngcobo explained that the department was forced to cover the shortfall from its own limited budget, severely hampering its ability to maintain schools and cover essential services like electricity.

“We are not close to a point where employees will not be getting paid. Salaries are protected,” he emphasised during the interview.

In a recent briefing to the KZN legislature’s portfolio committee on finance, the department’s CFO, Ntokozo Mlaba, issued a stark warning about the impact of ongoing budget cuts.

Mlaba revealed that the department may be unable to fund the salaries of 2336 teaching posts during the current financial year, raising serious concerns about staffing shortages and the stability of education delivery in the province.

The DA said that despite the severity of the crisis, education MEC Mbali Hlomuka has shown little urgency and was failing to fully engage with province’s education portfolio committee.

The party claimed that Hlomuka has withheld critical information and lacked political will to implement meaningful reforms to address the matter.

“This is not just poor governance – it is a betrayal of every child who depends on our public education system to escape poverty. The DoE is not just cash-strapped, it is functionally bankrupt in terms of vision and leadership,” Mngadi added.

The DA called for urgent reforms to KZN’s education budget, including restructuring the wage bill through an audit of ghost posts and a freeze on non-essential hires.

It also proposed a ring-fenced infrastructure fund, managed transparently, to ensure timely payments to service providers and prevent further delays in critical school construction and maintenance projects.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Malusi Shezi

Standing before a packed hall of industry giants, government dignitaries, academic minds and aspiring professionals at the 2025 Built Environment Indaba, I felt the weight—and the promise—of South Africa’s future.

Held at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, the event was a powerful reminder that the success of our built environment hinges on one urgent truth: we must coordinate, professionalise and accelerate skills development. The time for talk is over—the time to act is now.

The construction and built environment sector possesses immense potential to transform the lives of our citizens, generate sustainable employment through infrastructure development and drive inclusive economic growth.

However, this potential has long been undermined by a fragmented approach—marked by more than 30 industry bodies operating in isolation, often with overlapping mandates and duplicative programmes. This lack of strategic alignment hampers progress. It is imperative that we chart a new course—one defined by collaboration, coherence and a shared vision for national development.

A Shared Vision for Effective Skills Development Deliver in Nation-Building

CETA’s vision is simple, yet profound: to be a pillar for skills development and nation-building. Our mission is to position skills as the foundation for economic development and empowerment. These are not slogans — they are strategic commitments to unlock South Africa’s full potential.

This sector has the power to absorb thousands of unemployed youth. But it will require bold thinking and coordinated action. From introducing alternative building methods like modular construction technologies to fast-tracking artisanship and strengthening our relationship with TVETs and universities — we are building the pathways that will define the workforce of the future.

Skills as a Strategic Lever for Competitiveness and Development

Our National Skills Development Plan (NSDP 2030) demands a proactive, demand-led approach to skills delivery. We must respond to the real needs of the economy:

• Young people need jobs.
• Our townships need development to meet needs of current and future populations as we continue to experience rapid urbanisation.
• Our infrastructure backlogs and current state need speed, innovation and to be climate resilient to ensure sustainability.

I spoke about alternative building technologies (ABTs) — like modular panel systems — that can drastically cut construction times, reduce water usage and introduce green, scalable solutions to housing and public infrastructure of highest standards and quality.

These innovations are not abstract concepts; they are already being piloted in some pockets across the country with enormous success. There are relatable examples globally, where ABTs have solved social, economic and human settlement challenges like in China and Hong Kong.

They use high quality ABTs to build and house thousands in high-rise structures that meet the same standards and of built with traditional materials, if not better, as most have a better design and look, and are climate and environmentally friendly.

From Policy to People: Professionalising the Sector

We need to create clear articulation and attractive pathways, for example – from high school to artisanship, to technician/technologist, to being professionally registered as a built environment professional (BEPs). The formalisation of skills through recognition of prior learning and other pathways must be accelerated as it can close skills gap faster.

Mentorship must become an institutionalised culture for all entities and BEPs; it is key in smoothing the path through candidacy to being professionally registered. And gender, race and geographic equity must be built into everything we do.

Our CETA Career Impact-A-Generation Programme is a step in this direction — helping young people navigate their future with tools, guidance and role models they can relate to, while encouraging young women to consider construction as a career of choice. Further, this programme seeks to bring career guidance information in most of the official languages in South Africa.

Let’s Build the Future Together

My closing message to the indaba was simple, yet urgent: transforming skills development in our sector is not a solo act. No single institution can do it alone. We need councils, universities, regulators, innovators and communities to invest — not in isolation, but in unison.

CETA stands ready to lead, but we cannot lead alone. Let us walk this path side by side and build a sector that is green, inclusive and globally competitive. Let’s train young people not just for jobs, but for purpose-driven careers — to build the world they want to live in. Because in construction, you don’t just raise buildings. You raise nations. You build legacies.

Malusi Shezi is the CEO of the Construction Education and Training Authority.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

A Walter Sisulu University (WSU) residence manager accused of fatally shooting a student on Tuesday has been arrested

Eastern Cape Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed on Thursday that the 54-year-old man was arrested and faces charges of murder and attempted murder.

He is expected to appear in court on 22 April.

“While this arrest is a critical step, the investigation remains active,” Gantana said.

“No further details will be released to preserve the integrity of the case.”

Sisonke Mbolekwa’s death has triggered widespread outrage and protests across the campus.

On Thursday, tensions escalated into violent confrontations between students and private security personnel.

Videos circulated on social media showing guards entering the KTC residence and pulling students out of the building. In another video, security personnel were seen being pelted with stones by a group of students.

According to the Student Representative Council at least 20 students were hospitalised and several more injured.

The clashes came after the university issued an eviction notice to students, which the SRC has strongly opposed, citing unresolved grievances related to campus living conditions.

“There was a confrontation between students and the security company deployed by management,” SRC leader Themba Zikhali said.

“We are rejecting the eviction. We want justice for Sisonke and better conditions for all students.”

He also expressed concern over how the university leadership handled the situation.

“They must not run away from their issues. These residences are managed by them. They must come and account. They must come and manage their residences,” he said.

Zikhali added that the SRC and broader student body would not back down.

“We are not going anywhere until our demands are met. We want what we want. We are demanding our rights.”

He also commented on the involvement of Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, who visited the campus on Wednesday and met Mbolekwa’s family on Thursday.

While acknowledging the minister’s engagement, Zikhali said the university had misrepresented the situation.

“We told the minister everything. She said she is committed to addressing the issues, but the management has been lying to her claiming they are fixing things when they’re not,” he said.

The EFF Student Command condemned the university’s use of private security and raised alarm about human rights violations on campus.

“Security personnel are reportedly shooting and holding students hostage in their own rooms. There is a serious crisis unfolding at Walter Sisulu University. Students’ lives and safety are being threatened.”

All academic activities have been suspended at WSU’s Mthatha campus amid the unrest.

The minister travelled to Tsepisong village in Matatiele to convey condolences to the Mbolekwa family.

“I am heartbroken by this loss. No parent should have to bury their child under such circumstances,” she said.

The university’s council held an emergency meeting on Wednesday in response to the crisis.

In a statement, the council confirmed that the SRC had presented the students’ concerns, which included the poor state of some self-catering residences and a lack of basic appliances such as stoves, kettles and laundry equipment.

Council members also reviewed earlier complaints about alleged heavy-handed behaviour by the current security company during past protests.

As a result, the council resolved to end the existing security company’s contract which had already lapsed and confirmed that a newly appointed company would take over immediately.

“Council took several resolutions for immediate implementation by executive management,” the statement read.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Levy Mssiteng

The government has welcomed the country’s ranking as the second most literate nation in Africa, with an adult literacy rate of 95%. 

Acting government spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa said the research measured literacy based on the percentage of South Africans aged 15 and above who could read and write.

“This remarkable achievement stands as a testament to the effectiveness of the government’s progressive education policies and programmes implemented since the advent of democracy in 1994.” 

She said the key factors contributing to this success included progressive education policies, teacher development and Early Childhood Development (ECD). 

“These initiatives are underpinned by strategies focused on teacher development, access to quality learning materials and cultivating a culture of reading from an early age,” Mnukwa said.

“In the 7th administration, government continues to prioritise literacy development in the foundational years of education.” 

The government expressed its appreciation for the hard work of previous education ministers, including Angie Motshekga, and wished the current Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, success in continuing to improve foundational education and expand the teaching of indigenous languages.

“Government takes pride in this achievement and is committed to addressing remaining gaps and accelerating efforts toward achieving universal literacy.” 

According to the latest findings from Intelpoint, Seychelles tops the list at 95.9%, and Sao Tome and Principe are third at 94.8%.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has confirmed that the student who was shot dead at Walter Sisulu University on Tuesday is a registered student, which directly contradicts the university’s earlier press statement.

“According to our NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) record that I have here with me, the last payment of disbursement of funds to the university and to the students was at the end of last year. So, I can affirm today that indeed he was a student,” Nkabane said during a visit to the institution’s Mthatha campus on Wednesday.

Her confirmation comes after WSU issued a statement on Tuesday claiming that the deceased, who was killed during protests by students over living conditions at the university, was not registered.

The claim sparked outrage among the student body, which insisted the young man was actively attending classes and participating in campus life.

Nkabane said the error stemmed from a failure to verify the information provided by university management.

“Yes, I saw the university statement, but after we issued our own statement as the department. When I saw this trending on the news, I called Prof. Songca (the WSU Vice-Chancellor) to urgently brief me. She told me the student was not registered,” said Nkabane.

“The unfortunate part is that as the department, we issued a statement without doing due diligence or a quality check. But in the evening, after noticing contradicting views around the matter, I tasked the director-general to verify, and we confirmed he was indeed registered.”

Nkabane said she was “broken” by the incident and would be visiting the family of the student in Matatiele. 

“I can’t even speak. I don’t know how I’m going to face the family,” she said. “As a mother, I’m broken, to be honest.”

The minister’s visit comes amid growing criticism of campus safety and the university’s handling of the situation. 

The Student Representative Council has also demanded the immediate removal of KaMyaluza Security, which it accuses of multiple past incidents of violence, including firing at students and physically assaulting female students.

The residence manager, who allegedly shot Sisonke Mbolekwa, is now missing. Police confirmed that his phone is off.

Nkabane condemned what she described as a “new emergency in our institutions of weaponising and militarisation”. She said she would invoke Section 42 of the Higher Education Act to formally notify the university council to investigate the matter.

“We are not going to leave any stone unturned in ensuring that the case is attended to,” she said. “There will be consequence management.” 

The incident has also reignited scrutiny of WSU’s long-standing issues with violence, particularly in the context of student protests. 

In May 2023, the SA Human Rights Commission held an inquiry into the university, investigating claims of targeted violence against protesting students. The final report is yet to be released.

In addition to safety concerns, students have also raised issues about basic services, including poor water supply and inadequate accommodation.

Nkabane said she had discussed the matter with the campus president and promised an oversight visit to assess conditions and enforce compliance with national standards.

As the investigation into the fatal shooting continues, students and civil society groups are calling for swift justice and meaningful reforms to ensure such incidents are not repeated.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lungile Ntimba

Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane has condemned the recent incidents of gang-related violence that have affected Thetha Secondary School and Vulanindlela Secondary School, in Orange Farm.

“We call on all parents, guardians and community members to work with the Department to instil discipline and support efforts to protect the future of our learners. Our learners deserve an environment free from fear and violence,” Chiloane said in a statement on Wednesday.

This comes after a Grade 11 learner from Vulanindlela Secondary School was stabbed and rushed to the clinic on Wednesday morning, after an altercation with other learners.

A Grade 10 perpetrator was apprehended by school patrollers and is currently in police custody. 

In a separate incident at Thetha Secondary School, a series of events was triggered by a stabbing incident in the community on Friday, involving a learner and a known gang member.

The department said this appeared to be an act of retaliation, with gang members targeting the same learner at the school premises on Monday morning.

“No fatalities of school learners who may have been involved in both incidents were reported,” said the MEC.

“However, the department is working closely with law enforcement agencies to verify all reported incidents and suspects to ensure the safety of all learners and educators.” 

Schooling has been disrupted in the area due to the heightened tensions and ongoing safety concerns.

Chilone said the department and the SA Police Service have taken steps to stabilise the situation by increasing police visibility.

Employee wellness and psychosocial support teams have been deployed to provide necessary support to learners and educators affected by these incidents.

The MEC also said that the governing bodies of both schools would suspend and initiate disciplinary processes against identified learners.

Pupils have been encouraged to return to class as police have committed to patrolling their schools.

“Indeed, we unequivocally condemn all acts of violence and gang-related activity on and around school premises. We are committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe spaces for learning and development,” Chiloane said.

“Any learner found to be involved in gang-related violence will be suspended with immediate effect and subjected to formal disciplinary proceedings.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Alicia Mmashakana

The KwaZulu-Natal education department has issued guidelines for the management of schools during storms or flooding.

In the last week, the province has experienced continuous rain, which has led to localized flooding.

While there are currently no formal reports of damage to schools, the department has advised teachers and staff to exercise caution, especially as the rain is expected to let up anytime soon.

“It is imperative that schools and offices must adhere to specific guidelines in the event of extreme rainfall, wind or any other natural disaster which may threaten the lives of learners, teachers, and officials,” KZN education HOD Nkosinathi Ngcobo said on Wednesday.

“It is significant to note that any damage to road infrastructure may render learners and educators unable to make their way to schools. This includes delivery of food items necessary for the feeding of learners.”

According to Ngcobo, principals were responsible for developing curriculum catch-up plans and ensuring that learners were always engaged, whether at home or at school.

The following guidelines were issued for principals, circuit managers and all other responsibility managers:

School principals must always communicate with parents of learners to ensure that they take extra caution before sending their children to school in the morning.

Should the situation be completely unfavourable, the principal is responsible for advising parents to keep their children at home.

If learners are already at school, principals must observe the severity of the rainfall and decide either to keep them in school for their safety or immediately release them before the situation worsens. 

Any damage to school infrastructure or roads leading to the school, which affects learners and educators, must be reported immediately to the education department. 

Other responsibility managers must also advise staff members on the possible

safety precautions based on updated weather reports

According to the KwaZulu-Natal economic development, tourism and environmental affairs department, the eThekwini metro has been hit the hardest in terms of household destruction and people affected.

The SA Weather Service issued a level five warning for KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.

“The department cannot afford to lose any lives due to flooding of bridges and destruction of offices or classrooms,” Ngcobo said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Akani Nkuna

Teachers’ union Sadtu will embark on national protest to the Treasury, and departments of Basic Education and Higher Education and Training in Pretoria next week against budget cuts.

“This mass action is in protest against the austerity measures that are undermining public service delivery – particularly in education – and threatening the constitutional right to equality in education, especially for children from poor and working class backgrounds,” Sadtu general secretary, Mugwena Maluleke said in statement on Wednesday.

The upcoming march aligns with the global call by Education International under the theme “Go Public! Fund Education”.

The union aims to spotlight the severe impact budget cuts are having on South Africa’s education system, affecting teachers, learners and communities.

Mugwena said overcrowding in schools was growing and thousands of posts had been left vacant.

He said the Western Cape had frozen over 2000 posts, while other provinces have failed to expand staffing to match increasing enrolment numbers.

“… schools do not receive their funding for norms and standards timeously, forcing principals to cover basic operational costs from their own pockets. Educators and learners are also facing growing safety concerns, with violence in schools on the rise,” Mugwena added.

“Yet little is being done to strengthen security or to provide adequate psychological support. The lack of investment in teacher wellbeing continues to strain and already overstretched workforce.”

A recent Satu survey reveals the harsh impact of budget cuts on education, including overcrowded classrooms, poor infrastructure and shortage of staff. Grade R practitioners face exploitative wages, while scholar transport payments lag.

The union blames these issues on the harmful neoliberal policies that it says must end.

INSIDE EDUCATION