By Lebone Rodah Mosima

The higher education department must do more than widen access to universities and colleges, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube said, warning that a qualification without a clear pathway to work was “only half a solution”.

Dube-Ncube told the Global Student Well-being Summit 2026 at the Madiba Arena, South Campus, that student wellbeing could not be separated from accommodation, mental health, access to learning and the ability of graduates to find employment.

The remarks come against the backdrop of South Africa’s stubborn jobs crisis. The official unemployment rate rose to 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026, while President Cyril Ramaphosa said last month that youth unemployment stood at 46%.

Dube-Ncube said the summit’s theme, “Leaving No Student Behind: Towards Inclusive Pathways to Student Wellbeing,” should be treated as a test for “every policy, every budget line, and every programme this Department runs”.  

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“And if we are honest with one another, applying that test still finds us wanting in places,” she said.

She said the post-school education and training system continued to grapple with access that was “not yet universal”, insufficient accommodation, gaps in psychosocial support, gambling among financially strained students, bullying and the continued loss of young lives.

“Government continues to invest in expanding student accommodation infrastructure, because we understand that a bed in a safe, dignified residence is not a luxury, it is the foundation on which academic performance, mental health and personal safety all rest,” she said.

She said the department, through Higher Health, was sharpening its focus on early assessment and early detection, including screening and referral systems aimed at identifying mental health concerns, compulsive gambling behaviour and trauma linked to bullying before they escalate.

“A department that cares is a department that pays attention before the emergency, not only after it,” she said.

On access, Dube-Ncube said government was considering expanding blended learning models so that geography and cost did not determine whether young South Africans could study. She said work was also continuing on new universities and colleges of specialisation designed to respond to regional and economic skills needs.

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The department was also expanding multilateral agreements, international scholarships and twinning programmes, including opportunities for unemployed graduates to access qualifications through institutions in developed countries, she said.

Dube-Ncube said recent international partnerships workshops had moved new agreements closer to signature, while engagements with industry and Industrial Development Zones were aimed at ensuring that qualifications translated into employment.

“We understand that a qualification without a pathway to employment is only half a solution,” she said.

She said the department’s Skills on Wheels initiative was taking student support services and skills exposure directly to students, instead of waiting for students to seek assistance on their own.

She said the department was not presenting these measures as a finished solution, adding that accommodation, access and wrap-around support remained incomplete.

“A Department that cares does not hide behind good news alone — it names its shortcomings honestly, and then works, meticulously, with every partner willing to walk with it, including industry, to close the gap,” she said.

Despite the challenges, Dube-Ncube pointed to students achieving in sport, technical skills, research, aviation and design.

She cited students who completed the Comrades Marathon, young artisans preparing to represent South Africa at WorldSkills International in Shanghai, researchers whose academic work had gained international recognition, young women training as pilots and aviation technicians, and design students showcasing their work at events including the Durban July.

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By Johnathan Paoli

The 2026 FNB Under-18 Craven Week got under way at Grey High School in Gqeberha on Monday, with Boland fighting back to beat the Leopards 39-20 before Free State claimed a 66-41 win over the Limpopo Blue Bulls.

The annual tournament, widely regarded as South Africa’s premier provincial schools rugby showcase, brings together the country’s leading Under-18 players.

Boland made a slow start against the Leopards, who took control of the early exchanges and opened the scoring in the 15th minute through fullback Aydan Willemse. Ricardo Enos converted the try to give the North West side a 7-0 lead.

Enos added two penalties as the Leopards stretched their advantage to 13-0, but Boland worked their way back into the contest before half-time and trailed 13-3 at the break.

Boland took charge after the restart, scoring early in the second half to shift the momentum before adding further tries as the Leopards struggled to contain their wide attack.

The Leopards responded late through De Wet Grobler, but Boland sealed the result with a penalty before adding another late try to complete the comeback.

Wing Anwill Jacobs led Boland’s attack with a hat-trick of tries, while Dihego Braaf and JP Lotriet also crossed the line.

Jaydan van Niekerk kicked four conversions and a penalty, with Johan van Deventer adding another three points.

For the Leopards, Willemse and Grobler scored tries, while Enos finished with two conversions and two penalties.

Free State also had to recover from a slow start in their 66-41 win over the Limpopo Blue Bulls in a high-scoring match that produced 17 tries.

Limpopo raced into a 14-0 lead through tries from Juan Dreyer and Lehlogonolo Letlabola after an earlier effort had been ruled out.

Free State gradually settled and fought back as the teams traded tries in an open first half. The Bloemfontein side finished the half strongly to lead 28-19 at the interval before pulling away after the break.

Free State’s Zachary Walburgh was one of the standout performers, scoring three tries and converting eight of his side’s 10 tries.

Eddie Mabena and Ruan Roux each scored twice, while Lamla Mgedezi, Andrew Wessels and Unathi Ntuli also crossed the line.

The Limpopo Blue Bulls remained competitive throughout, with Letlabola scoring twice and Dreyer, Juan Randell, Kristen Swanepoel, Andru de Beer and Mahlatse Kekana also adding tries.

Ahead of their opening fixture, the Limpopo Blue Bulls paid tribute to those who had supported their preparations.

“The hard work has been done, the bonds have been strengthened, and now our focus shifts to the 2026 FNB U18 Craven Week. We are ready to proudly represent our union and give it everything we’ve got,” the union posted on social media.

The tournament will conclude on Saturday.

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By Charmaine Ndlela

A South African education technology platform, Chelo App, is changing the way schools raise funds by connecting them directly with alumni, donors and community members while ensuring that every rand donated is fully traceable through the projects it funds.

In an interview with Inside Education, Chelo App founder and CEO Maketele Khalo said the platform arose from his own frustration after trying to support his former school but finding no simple way to contribute or track how donations were used.

ALSO READ: UKZN pilots smart diabetes device to help elderly manage medication

 “Chelo means to pour. It was really about pouring back into my school and my community,” Khalo said.

The platform, officially registered in July 2023, partners with the SAP Foundation and the Department of Science and Innovation through the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). Since its launch, Chelo has grown to approximately 200 schools and more than 500 donors across South Africa.

Khalo said the idea originated after travelling from Cape Town to his hometown simply to find out what was happening at his former school.

 “I realised that in a digital age I should be able to know what is happening at my school from anywhere in the world. At the same time, I found that people wanted to donate but had no easy way of doing so or following the impact of their contributions,” he said.

That experience led to the creation of Chelo. Unlike traditional crowdfunding campaigns, schools joining the platform undergo a verification process before being approved. Once registered, they receive a digital wallet that allows alumni and supporters to make once-off or recurring donations, even before a specific fundraising project is launched.

When schools initiate projects, each proposal is vetted before publication and broken into measurable milestones. Payments are made directly to vetted suppliers only after work has been completed and approved by the school, ensuring funds are never withdrawn directly by the institution.

 “The school never really withdraws the money that comes in from the donor. The donations go directly to the supplier once the work is done and the school is happy with the work that’s been completed,” Khalo said.

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To further improve accountability, Chelo App developed NextFinder, a school needs assessment tool that evaluates governance, infrastructure, academic performance, teacher quality and learner support programmes before recommending priority development projects.

According to Khalo, the assessment helps schools identify their most urgent needs while giving donors confidence that projects have been independently assessed.

 “We suggest projects that the school needs to run to improve those areas. We then collect all those projects into a programme and indicate the priority of each project, highlighting those that will have the greatest impact and should be addressed first,” he said.

Beyond fundraising, Khalo said Chelo App aims to strengthen relationships between schools and their former learners by encouraging mentorship, networking and long-term community involvement.

 “We’re targeting alumni of that school, so we’re trying to restore that connection to our communities and make sure there is not only funding but also a shared purpose to positively impact the school,” he said.

Infrastructure projects currently attract the highest levels of support, with many donors choosing to fund renovations, classroom improvements, roofing, ceilings, sanitation facilities and general school maintenance.

 “When people visit a school, the first thing they notice is its condition. A better learning environment inspires learners and creates pride within the community,” he said.

 “We want learners to look forward to going to school and feel inspired by the environment. That, in itself, impacts how a child learns.”

One of the platform’s most significant success stories involves an alumnus who had attempted to support his former school since 2007 but was unable to do so until using the app.

The donor is now funding extensive renovations at Hwiti High School in Mankweng Township, Limpopo, including the installation of a new roof, ceilings and paving.

 “On a personal level for him, is the fact that he’s finally able to contribute to his school. For the school and learners, it’s a new environment that’s going to be bright and inspiring,” he said.

 “It shows that individuals are trying to help but are faced with barriers. Now we can make it easier for them to create that impact in our communities.”

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To expand its reach, Chelo App has been working with the South African Principals’ Association (SAPA), education districts and provincial stakeholders while helping schools reconnect with former learners through WhatsApp-based alumni campaigns.

Although the platform currently focuses on South African schools, Khalo said its long-term vision extends beyond the country’s borders.

 “We built Chelo App to solve challenges in education. South Africa is where we started, but we have no limits on where this model can go.”

Looking ahead, Chelo App will introduce new communication tools for alumni, donor management features and school competitions that reward active fundraising and community participation.

 “The campaign we’re going to be running is called the ‘Chelo No Limits’ campaign, which will operate through the app itself. It will focus on different types of projects and allow schools to compete based on their performance on the platform for sponsored prizes. We want to reward schools that actively engage their communities and drive successful fundraising projects,” he said.

Visit cheloapp.com to start your funding.

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By Lebone Rodah Mosima

KwaZulu-Natal schools won 24 national trophies at the 2026 ABC Motsepe South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE) National Championship, reinforcing the province’s reputation as one of the country’s strongest school choral performers.

The championship was held at Moreleta Kerk in Pretoria from 30 June to 3 July and brought together school choirs from across the country.

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The KZN Department of Education praised learners, educators, choir conductors, adjudicators, school management teams, district officials and parents who represented the province at the national event.

Organised by the departments of Basic Education and Sport, Arts and Culture, in partnership with the Motsepe Foundation, the championship “brought together South Africa’s finest school choirs in a celebration of musical excellence, unity in diversity, social cohesion and holistic learner development”.

“The competition provided learners with an opportunity to showcase their exceptional talent while promoting the values of discipline, teamwork and cultural appreciation,” the department said.

KZN had already emerged as the early frontrunner after day two, leading the national standings with 11 trophies before ending the championship with 24 national trophies.

The department said schools from across the province achieved first, second and third positions in several categories, with N.E. Ndlovu from Zama High School in the Amajuba District named Best Conductor.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education Sipho Hlomuka attended the championship in Pretoria, where he supported the provincial choirs and congratulated learners on their performances.

The department extended special congratulations to Empangeni High School, which was crowned the 2026 SASCE National Champ of Champs for a second consecutive year.

It said the achievement reflected the school’s continued commitment to excellence in choral music.

The department also commended Zama High School for securing third position in the Champ of Champs category and for producing the Best Conductor at the national championship.

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Hlomuka applauded every learner who represented KwaZulu-Natal, saying the province’s performance reflected the dedication, discipline and passion of learners, educators, conductors and support teams.

“Your performances have made KwaZulu-Natal proud and have once again demonstrated the exceptional musical talent that exists within our province,” Hlomuka said.

“We celebrate every choir that qualified for the national stage and thank everyone who contributed to this remarkable success.”

The department said it appreciated the work of choir conductors, educators, district officials, school management teams, parents and support staff whose commitment and preparation enabled learners to compete at national level.

“The South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod remains one of the Department of Basic Education’s flagship programmes, providing learners with opportunities to develop confidence, leadership, discipline, teamwork and social cohesion through music while nurturing artistic excellence,” the department said.

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By Thapelo Molefe 

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says unsafe sanitation remains a challenge at some schools despite the government completing the eradication of all pit toilets identified through the 2018 Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) Initiative audit.

Speaking during a school sanitation visit to Dimbaza Primary School on Monday, Gwarube announced that all 3,372 schools identified in the 2018 audit have now been provided with safe and appropriate sanitation facilities.

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However, she stressed that the milestone should not be interpreted to mean that pit toilets have been eliminated from every school in the country.

“The announcement confirms the successful completion of the backlog identified through the 2018 SAFE Initiative audit and does not suggest that every pit toilet in the country has disappeared,” Gwarube said.

She said some schools may have developed sanitation challenges after the original audit, others may have been unintentionally omitted, while some communities have retained old pit toilet structures despite receiving new facilities.

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The minister said provincial education departments must now identify and urgently address any remaining sanitation challenges.

The Department of Basic Education said the completion of the SAFE Initiative marks the end of one of democratic South Africa’s biggest school infrastructure programmes. 

The project has provided safe sanitation facilities to more than three million learners and created healthier working environments for more than 48,000 teachers.

The department said the programme honours the memory of children whose deaths exposed the dangers of unsafe school sanitation, including Michael Komape, Lumka Mkhethwa and Langalam Viki – all of whom died after falling into pit toilets.

Gwarube said South Africa still faces a broader school infrastructure backlog exceeding R120 billion, with many schools still requiring classrooms, libraries, laboratories, fencing and other essential facilities.

She also warned that natural disasters, vandalism and constrained provincial budgets continue to place pressure on infrastructure delivery.

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The minister said the gains made through the SAFE Initiative must now be protected through proper maintenance, community ownership and stronger provincial oversight to ensure the new facilities remain safe, clean and functional.

Calling on communities to safeguard school infrastructure, Gwarube said: “Today we celebrate a remarkable national achievement of eradicating 100% of the pit toilets identified in the SAFE Initiative Backlog. Tomorrow we continue building, maintaining and modernising our schools until every learner, in every province, learns in an environment that reflects the value we place on their future.”

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By Levy Masiteng 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has introduced a smart diabetes management device at Umdoni Retirement Village to help older residents manage their medication more effectively, with the first rollout seeing 10 devices donated.

UKZN said the Umdoni Diabetes Project was developed by its Electronic Engineering and Computer Engineering discipline to address a common challenge faced by older patients: remembering to take insulin correctly and on time.

The project was developed through a collaboration between final-year design student Kwanele Dladla, Principal Technician Divesh Maharaj and Professor Tom Walingo.

The initiative combines technology and community engagement to support residents living with diabetes, including those who face memory-related conditions and complex treatment routines.

The project began after Umdoni representatives, led by local advocate Bob Abel, approached UKZN for assistance. The university said the EECE team recognised an opportunity to apply engineering skills to a practical community need and worked through a collaborative design process focused on real-world challenges.

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“This wasn’t innovation for its own sake,” Walingo said. “It was about solving a problem that directly affects people’s lives.”

The compact and portable device incorporates insulin pen holders, a rechargeable battery and visual and audible alert systems to prompt users when it is time to administer their medication, helping to reduce uncertainty and the risk of missed or incorrect doses.

UKZN said affordability was a guiding principle during development, with production costs kept low so the technology could eventually be scaled and made accessible to a wider population.

After extensive laboratory testing, prototypes were evaluated in real-world conditions at the retirement village over several months. Feedback from residents and caregivers helped ensure the final product was reliable and user-friendly.

Funding for the project was facilitated by the UKZN Foundation, enabling the first rollout of 10 donated devices to Umdoni Retirement Village.

“Beyond its technical capabilities, the device restores a sense of independence to its users. For elderly individuals who may otherwise rely heavily on caregivers, the system offers reassurance and autonomy,” Maharaj said.

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“We envision expanding the system into a fully integrated smart medication dispenser capable of managing multiple treatments,” Dladla said.

UKZN said discussions were also underway to formalise partnerships with local government, including a potential memorandum of understanding with Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, to increase the project’s reach and extend the benefits of the innovation to more communities.

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