By Lungile Ntimba

Not every learner wants to or can go to university, so it is important that the education system equips them so that they can become productive members of society, according to Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube.

The minister is on a national listening and learning tour and visited Olympia Park School in Springs, Ekurhuleni, on Friday.

Olympia Park is a school for learners with special needs. It offers a technical occupational curriculum over four years and consists of years, not grades.

“It’s very important to understand that not every child aspires to be an academic and that we’ve got to make sure that we’ve got schools of skills such as Olympia Park, which really seeks to give kids an opportunity to come and hone their skills.

“But, also, so that they may be able to go into the economy with a skill, so that they can live lives of dignity,” Gwarube said during the visit.

She said this was especially important for children with special academic needs and intellectual disabilities.

“I’m incredibly proud of this model and I’m hoping that we can see more of it and more of these interventions replicated across the country,” said Gwarube. 

The minister also highlighted that when she had a meeting with various officials, that she was able to get a better understanding of the “pressure points” in the Gauteng education system.

She said there was a lot of good happening in the province in terms of academic performance.

“Of course, there are challenges that we as a department, alongside our colleagues in Treasury, need to make sure that we try and meet… [There are] demands around infrastructure to avoid overcrowding in classrooms because there is a high pressure and a high-density problem,” said Gwarube.

She added that it was not only important for the department to have a theoretical understanding of the system, but to also have a far more in-depth and practical understanding.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johannah Malogadihlare

The Gauteng education department has denied allegations by the Democratic Alliance of bursary fraud involving senior department officials.

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona told Inside Education that the allegations of fraud and corruption were fabricated.

The DA in Gauteng has demanded that the province’s education MEC Matome Chiloane launch an immediate investigation.

This follows reports that a group of anonymous department employees have  accused HOD Rufus Mmutlana, and head of human resources, Kgabo Morifi, of allegedly running an elaborate scheme to coerce junior administrators into diverting payments and stipends intended for students funded by the department’s bursary scheme, the Gauteng City Region Academy.

However, Mabona dismissed the allegations, saying that students were being remunerated.

He also said that the MEC had not heard anything about the claims.

“The department has not received any complaint from employees regarding these allegations. If an employee has information of substance, such must be reported without fear,” Mabona said.

DA MPL Sergio Dos Santos said it had been reported that the employees had called on the Hawks to intervene.

“The accusations point to severe mismanagement and possible misuse of funding designated for students from underprivileged backgrounds”, Dos Dantos said. The DA warned the department that it would take action if Chiloane ignored the matter.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Simon Nare

The DA has refused to be drawn on whether it will heed a call by civil society group AfriForum to leave the Government of National Unity over the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, which the organisation believes threatens the existence of Afrikaans schools.

Rather Democratic Alliance spokesperson Karabo Khakhau said the party was engaging the African National Congress in the GNU to resolve matters of concern in the legislation and properly protect mother tongue education for all.

“If the DA were not in the GNU, the full act would already be in force, but it isn’t,” said Khakhau.

She, however, refused to comment on whether the party would consider quitting the GNU if the talks over two clauses and court action failed, saying the party would report any progress soon.

AfriForum announced that its board has unanimously decided to officially request the DA and FF Plus to reconsider their participation in the GNU should the Act be implemented in its entirety.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed the bill into law but suspended the clauses that deal with language and the powers of school governing bodies.

Ramaphosa gave the parties in the GNU three months to find common ground failing which he would sign the other clauses.

The DA in its initial response said it would take the matter court.

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said the organisation decided on this move after learning about a group of ANC members acting contemptuously towards Ramaphosa’s decision to give parties three months to find a common ground.

Kriel described the group within the ANC as anti-African and was primarily within the Gauteng government.

“This anti-African group is openly out to derail constructive discussions and steamroll the implementation of the Bela Act in its current format and try to make any cooperation within the GNU impossible,” claimed Kriel.

Kriel said the hope that the GNU had ushered in a new era of cooperation would be dashed if it turned out that the ANC has simply co-opted the DA and FF+ to slavishly follow ANC policies.

He argued that parties like the DA and the FF+ did not have the right to participate in the injustice that would be perpetrated against Afrikaans children and schools by the Bela Act in its current format.

“Afrikaans speakers do not, like other cultural groups in the country, have large traditional areas in which their cultures are promoted and, therefore, Afrikaans schools play a central role in the survival of the respective Afrikaans cultural communities across the country.

“Precisely because of this, the fight against Bela is not just a fight against another law, but it is a fight for cultural survival,” said Kriel.

Kriel said the organisation’s concern stemmed from Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi who has publicly said there would be no room for a single medium Afrikaans school.

He said these comments by Lesufi were made while parties were negotiating. He also cited Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane for his “wistfully counting down the days” to implement the new law.

“This disdain for further discussion is also shared by a number of senior officials in the national Department of Education. This was clear during a meeting where an official acted very aggressively towards AfriForum, Solidarity and Saai’s (Southern African Agri Initiative) delegates and even indicated that the implementation of the Bela Amendment Act was a foregone conclusion,” said Kriel.

INSIDE POLITICS

By Lungile Ntimba 

A total of 173 inmates will sit for the National Senior Exam, according to the Correctional Services Department.

Department spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said the department was pleased with the level of preparedness.

The inmates have completed the academic syllabus on time and have undergone various assessments throughout the year. 

“Educators from the department’s 18 schools remain optimistic, having made significant efforts to ensure that all candidates are thoroughly prepared,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

He added that during the exam preparations, the department ensured that all required textbooks and stationery were delivered in a timely manner.

Correctional Services national commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale has praised teachers for their dedication and hard work in preparing the inmates for this important milestone. 

“Education not only empowers offenders with knowledge, but also offers them a path to a new life. It remains our commitment to provide growth and development opportunities for every inmate, as we believe in the power of education to transform lives”, commented Thobakgale.

Last year, inmates achieved a 93% overall pass rate, with nine schools attaining a 100% pass rate.

“Correctional Services attributes these results to the conducive learning environment it fosters within correctional centres, as well as its commitment to providing offenders with education and skills that will help them reintegrate into society after their release,” said Thobakgale

He said that the department has also embraced technological advancements in education.

Earlier this year, the Johannesburg Correctional Centre introduced Intelsat Telematics System, which provided access to valuable study materials for both inmates and educators.

He said he appreciated the department’s officials for maintaining their professionalism and dedication in adhering the strict exam protocols set by the Basic Education Department.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Nkhensani Chauke

Western Cape education MEC David Maynier has congratulated two learners from the province who received special awards at the recent Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair.

Salusiwe Mxayiya, a Grade 11 learner at Luhlaza High School, was presented with best development project award for investigating the population dynamics and infection rates of Hector’s lantern fish – a common species found along the West Coast.

And Grade 12 learner Lukusa Tshizubu from Parow High School won the award for best energy project.

The goal of his project titled ‘GreenHauler – Construction Debris Management’ was to build a truck designed to use renewable energy and innovative on-site debris processing for efficient construction debris management. 

This project expertly advanced sustainable practices in the industry, highlighting the importance of investing in green technologies and paving the way for further innovations in environmentally friendly construction solutions, the MEC said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Congratulations to our two Western Cape learners who have represented us so well on an international stage.

“It is exciting to see the innovative ideas of our learners in this field, and I look forward to seeing our achievers continue their journeys of curiosity and exploration in the sciences. I hope that their success will inspire other learners to follow this same path,” he said.

The expo served as a platform for young scientists to showcase their work and engage with peers, fostering the next generation of innovators.

It drew participants from across South Africa and the rest of the world.

Other winners included Ammarah Patel and Naveera Chana from the Johannesburg region for best female project, and Aman Pati from the Mopani region for best innovation project.

The winners each received R10,000.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lungile Ntimba

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has called on finance MEC Lebogang Maile to investigate the social development department for alleged corruption in school uniform cooperatives.

DA social development spokeswoman Refiloe Nt’sekhe said earlier this year that sewing cooperatives enlisted by the department to supply school uniforms were abandoned because the former social development MEC Mbali Hlophe allegedly
failed to pay for services rendered. 

“At that time, MEC Hlophe denied knowing the cooperatives even though GDSD’s social media posts depicted her handing out uniforms made by cooperative,” Nt’sekhe said on Wednesday.

She said an investigation by the DA revealed that the department had implemented an “odd procurement process” whereby certain cooperatives would become main contractors and others would become subcontractors. 

“For about seven years, the department has failed to spend on school uniforms because the Treasury has released a circular… stating the government cannot procure goods and services from NPOs.

“During all portfolio committee meetings, the department repeatedly highlighted that they had discovered a way to comply with Circular 21. However, every year, funds remained unspent, and this has left many Gauteng learners in desperate need of these uniforms stranded,” she said.

Nt’sekhe said that when the committee suggested hiring a company as the primary contractor and using cooperatives as subcontractors, the department implemented an odd method and procured uniforms. 

“As of August, many of the cooperatives were still not paid. Some had even staged an overnight sit-in by the DSD provincial offices,” she said.

She said last month when the Gauteng social development portfolio committee visited NPOs that used to make school uniforms in Sedibeng, they revealed horrific practices by the department.

“The department’s staff had cooperatives which they fronted using friends’ or relatives’ details, while NPOs were registered as main contractors and the department-imposed subcontractors on them,” said Nt’sekhe.

It is alleged that while main contractors were given expired purchase orders, others received the tenders via WhatsApp without a purchase order.

She said many sub-contractors were not legitimate and they did not have proper equipment. Existing cooperatives had to borrow them sewing machines when inspectors visited.

One of the subcontractors is a company from KwaZulu-Natal.

“There was an inconsistency with the orders. The department would give a cooperative an order of 150 uniforms, and yet when they were delivered to the school, the school principal would be expecting an order of 300,” she said.

Nt’sekhe said that when the DA proposed that the tender should be divided amongst small businesses, the department ignored them leading to improper tender procedures.

“The DA will write to the MEC for treasury and economic development, Lebogang Maile, demanding an urgent investigation into the corruption allegations against GDSD staff… “In our letter we will demand that MEC Maile provide clear timelines as to when the investigation will be concluded, the public release of outcomes, and the implementation of recommendations,” she said.

The DA emphasised that there must be no delay in justice, and those found guilty must face the consequences.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lungile Ntimba 

With the final matric exams just around the corner, KwaZulu-Natal learners keen on furthering their studies in science, technology, engineering and maths, (STEM) now have an opportunity to do so through the newly launched Shell South Africa Bursary Programme.

KwaZulu-Natal education MEC Sipho Hlomuka and Shell Downstream South Africa chairman Aluwani Museisi attended the launch as part of the countdown to the 2024 National Senior Certificate exams.

Learners from Indukwenhle High School, Menzi High School and Velabahleke High School were assisted by officials from Shell to apply online for the bursary.

According to department spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi, the learners were excited and said that even though there were only 20 days left before the exams, they were motivated to work extra hard to increase their chances of getting the bursary.

”I am very excited about this opportunity and the experience of applying online, and I am sure that I am going to succeed in these coming exams. I want to make my school as well as my parents proud,” said Fatima Khanyile, a learner from Velabahleke High School.

Museisi wished the learners the best of luck for the exams, saying the future was in their hands.

“We are grateful to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education for realising our vision of nation building and saying yes to the partnership, which will bring smiles and hope to the lives of our children” said Museisi.

“Shell Downstream South Africa is honoured to see this programme take off today and look forward to seeing you, the future leaders and innovators who will play an integral role, in building our nation in the years to come.”

Hlomuka expressed his gratitude to Shell for providing this opportunity to disadvantaged learners.

He encouraged them to work extra hard.

“The only thing standing between you and finally getting these bursaries from Shell, is you getting excellent results in these exams. There are a few days left in your basic education journey and you need to maximise the moment,” said Hlomuka.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johannah Malogadihlare

The Western Cape education department is encouraging its citizens to show their
appreciation for teachers as October is National Teacher Appreciation Month.

With World Teachers’ Day being on Saturday, the department has called on the public
to make the day more memorable by showering teachers with words of gratitude on
social media using the hashtag #ThankAteacher.

The department said on Tuesday that educators played a critical role in the upbringing
of children and they should be valued.

“Teachers shape the lives of our youth and provide them with the tools to succeed in the
workplace and as leaders in society. They make a lasting and positive influence on our
lives and that of our children, and this should be acknowledged,” said education MEC
David Maynier.

“We are also encouraging our learners to write a letter or card to their teacher, or draw a
picture for their special teacher, to share with them in the run up to World Teachers’
Day. These small gestures of thanks go such a long way.”

He said that as the province celebrated this noble profession, he was well aware of the
pressure that the “national fiscal emergency” had placed on educators and schools.

“We will continue to work with other provinces through the Council of Education
Ministers to outline the scale of the challenges facing provincial education departments,
and to fight for our teachers,” Maynier said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Edwin Naidu

Are there too many vehicles on South Africa’s roads, and how is this affecting the nation?

According to Stats SA, there are 12 million vehicles on our roads, with at least 7000 people dying every year in motor vehicle-related accidents.

This is despite South Africa signing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which all United Nations members adopted in 2015. The Sustainable Development Goal Target 3.6 aims to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030.

However, a recent report by Stats SA, ‘Road Transport Accident Deaths in South Africa, 2007-2019’, shows that the number of deaths from road transport accidents continues to increase.

Several factors contribute to road traffic accidents, including human error, inadequate infrastructure, vehicle defects and environmental conditions.

Human factors, such as speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving (often due to smartphone usage) and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, are among the primary causes.

I read in one article that the SA Police Services recently laughed at a drunken man in a Solar4Life Haval who wanted to stop several motorists because they were driving, in his words, too fast. It was no laughing matter when the drunk idiot crashed into a wall. Still, getting the police to do their job is like expecting snow in summer.

The cumulative figures for road transport accident fatalities between 2007 and 2019 indicate that individuals typically pass away in the province where they reside.

KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo have the highest proportions of deaths occurring in the residents’ respective provinces, with rates of 92,1% and 93,4%, respectively.

In contrast, Gauteng displays a distinct pattern compared to other provinces, with a lower percentage of road transport accident fatalities occurring in the province of usual residence, at 54,2%.

These daily horrific accidents that remind us of the carnage on our roads, especially on the N3 to Durban where the number of truck accidents via Pietermaritzburg, is alarming.

On Monday, Higher Education and Training director-general Nkosinathi Sishi challenged Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) CEO Maphefo Anno-Frempong to help save lives by encouraging citizens to use rail as a means of transport.

“It would save many lives,” he said during the launch of the Green Hydrogen Centre of Specialisation at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria.

Sishi, a former deputy director-general of public entity oversight at the national Transport Department, said his calls followed the tragic passing of a department parliamentary liaison officer in a road accident over the weekend.

The emphasis of the launch was on the groundbreaking formation of the centre, which is a first for hydrogen in South Africa.

This project involves collaboration between the Chemical Industries Education & Training Authority, the Mining Qualifications Authority and TETA. Its aim is to address the pressing need for hydrogen skills in the country.

Yet, the DG’s sadness about his late colleague was evident at the CSIR.

Anno-Frempong agreed with Sishi, saying the consequences of an accident involving hydrogen transportation were unimaginable.

“For us, it is ensuring the lives of people of South Africa are secure as hydrogen is stored and transported at distribution centres,” she added.

Preferably, it would be carried via rail.

However, if two recent incidents that negatively impacted citizens are honestly analysed, one is left with the feeling that our government has a poor track record of putting the nation first.

First, the SA National Defence Force lacked intelligence in decisively dealing with the July 2021 riots in KwaZulu-Natal. The government estimates 354 deaths during the rioting.  And recently, the unprecedented heavy snowfall, which sadly resulted in casualties, could have been prevented had the country’s disaster management team not been asleep.

The Transport Department could have acted on the SA Weather Service’s warnings of inclement conditions on the horizon by liaising with the traffic authorities to close the roads in anticipation of snowfall.

But in a country where traffic authorities are susceptible to bribes, letting people off the hook, or putting motorists through unnecessary roadblocks while leaving malfunctioning robots to be manned by beggars risking their own lives while keeping traffic moving, is ludicrous.  

If she makes good on her promise, a forward-thinking CEO like Anno-Frempong would go a long way toward ensuring the safety of citizens in our country with a poor track record.

Honest public servants like Sishi and Anno-Frempongmust be applauded for discussing ways to save lives rather than responding when it is too late. However, South Africa Inc. must first understand why the left hand must know what the right hand is doing to ensure we arrive alive.

Edwin Naidu is Editor of Inside Education.

Inside Education

By Johnathan Paoli

National Science Week (NSW) is a critical opportunity to further the integration of science and technology into society, in light of the below average performance of the country in the sector, according to the SA Agency for Science and Technology Advancement.

SAASTA communication manager Mike Ellis praised the importance of science education, especially for the youth, saying that despite the achievements made so far, more needed to be done to put South African on the map.

“South Africa has been performing below average, with some significant challenges, including socio-economic disparity. However, we have made significant progress since 2003, especially regarding gender and other improvements including raising awareness,” Ellis said.

Ellis referenced the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), an assessment of learners from both the intermediate and senior phases, and facilitated by the Human Sciences Research Council.

It compares learners’ educational knowledge and skills.

The assessment found that out of a group of 17 countries, South Africa scored last with a score of 370, 130 below the centrepoint of 500.

Also, language was a major obstacle in science education, in addition to socio-economic barriers which impacted effective learning and educational support.

The TIMSS 2019 results indicated that learner performance, while improving, was still low.

There was an urgent need to identify ways to enhance science teaching and learning.

It called for the introduction of scientific terms in everyday speech among learners, an improvement in reading with meaning, and a practical as well as theoretical method which encourages critical thinking skills.

Ellis said there was a desperate need of more skilled teachers in order to help students on scientific educational development, but this required well-funded schools.

He said improvement within the sector hinged upon a comprehensive strategy which took into consideration the unique challenges of South Africa as a country.

Both the SAASTA and the Science and Innovation Department has welcomed the NSW as an opportunity to further integrate science and technology in schools and public spaces.

The week will consist of several activities at both national and provincial level that aim to bridge the gap between science and the nation.

In terms of the national scale, activities include daily five-minute quizzes at the beginning of the school day for schools at intermediate, senior and FET levels.

The Albertina Nontsikelelo Sisulu Science Centre in the Eastern Cape is expected to conduct a talk on the importance of cybersecurity in the digital age on Tuesday.

The Free State is expected to conduct public visits to government-funded infrastructure to experience astronomy and associated technologies at the Naval Hill Planetarium in Bloemfontein.

In Gauteng, the Tshwane University of Technology is expected to host a Science Festival on Wednesday, celebrating creativity and innovation among science students.

Postgraduates will showcase their innovative high-tech-based science projects through oral presentation.

In KwaZulu-Natal, an early childhood development event on coding and robotics will be held in Newcastle, as well as a hands-on science exhibition on virtual reality.

Limpopo will see an exhibition starting from Wednesday on smart farming using technology, and a school visit to St Mark’s Comprehensive Secondary School to showcase career opportunities in science and technology while educating students about the latest advances.

Mpumalanga will additionally host an ECD introduction to technology in Mbombela the entire week.

The Northern Cape will host public visits to the South African Astronomical Observatory field station near Sutherland, while the North West will celebrate science week at the Lerothodi Secondary School in Bojanala.

The Western Cape will host public visits to the SA Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town, is set to launch a hands-on activity for schools in the Overberg district, as well as a learner outreach in Laingsburg and a community engagement on sustainable fishing.

Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande officially launched the NSW on Saturday at the Bloemfontein campus of the Central University of Technology.

He said his department sought to encourage a culture of critical conversations among ordinary people and the youth concerning the value of science to society.

SAASTA project coordinator Bafedile Kgwadi called for active participation in the week’s activities.

“Science is all around us, and people from all sectors of society are encouraged to participate and demonstrate how they relate to technology and it affects their everyday life,” Kgwadi said.

The department also launched the Science Engagement Information Management System in order to store and process raw project performance data.

It aligns the science engagement programme with the 2011 National Evaluation Policy Framework for the Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation Department as well as the National Treasury. The week-long celebration is expected to provide all stakeholders with the opportunity to advance the goals of the country’s science engagement programme, and generate the necessary buzz about science in everyday life.

INSIDE EDUCATION