By Edwin Naidu

South Africa’s tertiary education sector is urgently grappling with sustainability challenges amidst sluggish economic growth and the disruptive influence of digitalisation and artificial intelligence on the global job market, as highlighted by Universities South Africa (USAf) CEO Dr Phethiwe Matutu.

“In the light of global and local crises and unprecedented technological advancements, South African universities may be at a turning point in history,” Matutu added. 

Reflecting on “The Future of the University” at a three-day conference at the CSIR in Pretoria, Matutu made it clear that the higher education sector was facing enormous sustainability challenges due to slow economic growth. 

This was further exacerbated by the profound and transformative impact of digitalisation and AI on the world of work in general. 

The conference explored current and developing trends in higher education and how they impacted universities’ core functions of teaching and learning, research and engagement, leadership and management, transformation, and how institutions positioned graduates for the future world of work and economic participation. 

“A sluggish economy has resulted in high levels of unemployment and declining state subsidies. How universities respond to these and global changes (including climate variability, adaptability and environmental sustainability) will determine not only the future of the university, but that of society and humanity,” she said. 

USAf chairperson Prof. Francis Petersen, the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria, highlighted the conference’s collaborative nature.

It brought together local and international university leaders, researchers, policymakers, educators and industry experts, tapping into their collective wisdom and engaging in impactful conversations about sustaining the future of universities in South Africa and globally.

Petersen acknowledged the challenges but also highlighted the potential for positive change. 

He said that while global crises have impacted SouthAfrican universities and they were still confronting historical and structural inequalities, positive change was possible.

The ever-evolving challenges related to rapid technological advancements in developing countries, inadequate governance and deepening financial and sustainability crises can be opportunities for growth and improvement.

“As knowledge-producing and critical citizenship development institutions, universities have a special and vital role. They are beacons of hope and are institutions for human progress and development,” he said. 

Key topics deliberated on, included:

• Technology and human interface in the future university;

• Higher education funding and financial sustainability;

• Academic freedom;

• Research and innovation strategies in relation to declining resources;

• Climate change, environmental issues and the future of the university;

• Artificial intelligence and teaching and learning in the future university.

Petersen said global themes and topics surrounding the university’s future ignited thinking around critical higher education focus areas interlinked with the future of humanity. 

“We can only gain deeper insights into what the sector’s future may look like through interactive engagement with the multiple stakeholders within the industry.”

He said universities significantly impact society’s advancement. 

They shape the education system, produce and hone skills and competencies needed for the economy, contribute to scientific discoveries, advancements, and innovations, and shape society’s overall progress.

Petersen noted that the conference took place after a significant disruption to the higher education system and social life caused by global catastrophes such as the Covid-19 pandemic, contributing to a vastly different reality on local campuses.

“Covid-19 led to a rapid online pivot in universities while ongoing, quick-paced technology developments in AI were underway. During all this, universities must remain at the forefront of the digital revolution and map their future paths while doing so. 

“Slow adaptation to rapid digitalisation can only be to the sector’s detriment,” he warned.

“As universities navigate this complex terrain, it is imperative to critically reflect on past practices while charting pathways toward a more inclusive, equitable and responsive system.” 

That is why USAf, recognising the need for strong and effective universities, was working through its six strategy groups (funding, leadership and management, research and innovation, teaching and learning, transformation, and the world of work) to promote cohesive, but diverse public universities that served society.

Identifying sustainable funding was vital for the future of universities. This included examining the state subsidy model, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme modeland its sustainability, and university fee regulations.

Former University of the Witwatersrand vice-chancellor Prof. Adam Habib, who is now the Vice-Chancellor of SOAS, University of London, told delegates that while there was positivity over transforming South Africa’s tertiary system from apartheid to democracy, its success hid significant structural fault lines in the country’s higher education sector.  

He said that the university system had not achieved the programmatic differentiation envisaged at the turn of the century, instead degenerating into homogenisation and vertical stratification based on reputation. 

As a result, he said the incentive structure for research subsidies and the ranking systems had pushed all universities to try to be like each other, undermining the programmatic and functional differentiation that would allow institutions to produce the diverse human capital base required for South Africa’s economic and social development. 

In his address, ‘Reflections on Post-Apartheid Higher Education: Looking Back, Going Forwar’, Habib said his reflections touched on higher education policy and highlighted successes, failures and blind spots, especially as they speak to the future. 

Habib’s keynote address contained five lessons from the past that could shape the future: 

• Leadership matters. This leadership needs to speak to our context. In South African universities, this means enabling access, ensuring a quality education, and building a financially sound institution. 

• Institutional and national citizenship cannot simply emerge from education and acculturation; consequences must be applied to malevolent behaviour. There is no better case study for this than the issue of violence.

• Capabilities matter. If there is a central lesson to be learned from Covid-19, it is that ordinary citizens are the primary victims of a lack of capabilities within the state. 

• How we spend is as important as how much we spend. This basic principle, common to most households in our country, is lost on most public institutions and funding regimes.

• Finally, stewardship and governance of public institutions matter. 

He said these five lessons were intertwined and that it was impossible to address collective challenges without a comprehensive response that included, among other things, the five lessons identified. 

“We have in effect become what we most hate: a segregated society, defined perhaps not by the formal legally enforced rules of race, but definitely by the informal rule of money. This future will consolidate unless we demonstrate the courage and the political will to act now to stop the rot,” Habib said. 

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Amy Musgrave

With the matric exams starting on Monday, the Basic Education Department says some of its main concerns are potential protests and power cuts.

The National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations will run for just over a month until 27 November.

For now, the department has been assured by Eskom that there will be no load reductions for the first week of the exams while learners write computer-based subjects.

Briefing the media on the readiness of the department to administer the exams, Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule said that there had been a meeting between the department and Eskom.

“Now we have the challenge… of load reduction, not load-shedding. Eskom said there will be no load-shedding, as there is no load-shedding.

“The subjects that require electricity… will be written this week and they have promised us that there will be no disturbances whatsoever,” she said in Pretoria on Sunday.

For the rest of the exam period, the deputy minister said the department was encouraging provinces to enter into discussions with municipalities because they “are the ones who are now embarking on this load reduction as a way of curbing their debt to Eskom”.

She said municipalities and the SA Local Government Association had promised that the “exams would run”.

Mhaule said the security cluster would monitor the exams and respond to any incidents or disasters that may arise.

While no protests have been threatened with regards to the exams, demonstrations in South Africa occur regularly, especially over the lack of service delivery.

Also, Gauteng has seen a number of protests in its townships over the last couple of weeks against foreign nationals who own spaza shops. They have been blamed for food poisoning incidents that have left children ill, and monopolising the township economy.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube appealed to communities to give Grade 12 learners the support they needed and to ensure that there were no disruptions during the exam period.

“Protesting is a democratically protected right. All my plea is that our exam centres and our schools are national assets. There are over 800,000 candidates who are going to have this one opportunity to write an exam that that can change the course of their lives.

“…. I just ask communities to be mindful of the fact that protest action can disrupt this critical period and that we would appreciate from communities to understand… [that we need] to give learners the best shot,” the minister said.

South Africa’s largest teacher union, Sadtu, has also spoken against any demonstrations during this period.

“We strongly condemn any community protests or disruptions timed to coincide with the exams as such actions deprive learners of the opportunity to complete exams that can change their lives for the better,” Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said in a statement.

Earlier this month the Umalusi Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training warned that factors that could disrupt the smooth running of the exams included load-shedding, community protests and cheating.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

With the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams starting on Monday, the Basic Education Department says it all systems go.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said on Sunday that the exams were not only a critical milestone for the learners involved, but they also represented the cumulative efforts of the education system, schools, communities and the department.

“With just hours to go before the first paper is written, I proudly announce that we are ready to administer the 2024 NSC exams – holding ourselves to best-in-class integrity, security, and efficiency standards,” she told reporters in Pretoria.

Well wishes have been pouring in for the Class of 2024, with President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledging the dedication of the learners, teachers and their families.

“You are ready now to play back the knowledge you have acquired during these important years of your life. Be confident in what you know and believe in yourself,” the Ramaphosa said.

“These examinations are not an obstacle; they’re a gateway to your continued success and a new phase of your life in which the adventure of learning and the ability to share your knowledge with others never stops.

“As you continue to prepare for your exams, there will be moments of difficulty. When these come, ask for help from everyone around you and they will support you.”

Gwarube said department has implemented numerous interventions.

These included personalised learning programmes and extra tuition sessions to address the educational disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which particularly affected this cohort of learners earlier in high school.

Other key initiatives supporting the Class of 2024 were personalised learning interventions, additional teaching support and socio-emotional care. 

Equally, provinces rolled out face-to-face extra tuition sessions, Saturday catch-up programmes, and extended school hours in key subjects — especially to learners who struggled to cope with the curriculum content due to earlier disruptions. 

These targeted initiatives focused on subjects with high enrolments, such as Mathematics, Life Sciences and Business Studies.

In addition to classroom-based interventions, learners have also benefited from extensive support in the form of revision materials, past question papers and online resources made available through public-private partnerships with stakeholders such as Vodacom, MTN and the National Education Collaboration Trust.

The minister said these partnerships had made an invaluable contribution to education in the country. 

This year, the examination process will include 727,121 full-time and 155,215 part-time candidates, along with 16,400 learners from private institutions writing the IEB exams.

Gwarube said that to ensure the integrity of the examination process, comprehensive security measures had been put in place, including monitoring at high-risk centres and deploying qualified markers for the grading process.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance has also extended its best wishes to the matric class, highlighting the resilience shown by learners amidst various challenges such as overcrowded classrooms and inconsistent access to school resources.

The DA’s Delmaine Christians emphasised the importance of staying focused during this critical period and expressed hope for successful outcomes once the results were released next year.

She said good quality education was the best way to ensure that young people were lifted out of poverty.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has issued a heartfelt message of well wishes and thoughts to the Class of 2024 as they prepare to write their National Senior Certificate exams that start on Monday.

With over 732,000 full-time and 136,000 part-time candidates registered, which is an increase of 8400 from last year, Sadtu spokesperson Nomusa Cembi said the exams symbolised the culmination of twelve years of education.

“These examinations… carry immense pressure. They are often seen as a reflection of the health of our education system, while learners view them as the key to unlocking higher education and future opportunities. Considerable resources have been invested in study camps to prepare learners for this important milestone,” she said in a statement.

“However, Sadtu believes that the burden of pressure placed on these exams can be alleviated if the Department of Basic Education allocates equal attention and resources across all grades. A well-functioning system from foundation phase upwards would ensure smoother progress for all learners, including Grade 12s.”

Cembi said the union was concerned that while approximately 1.1 million learners began Grade 10 two years ago, only 827,000 were set to write the exams, highlighting a dropout rate of nearly 200,000 students.

She commended the dedication of teachers who have guided these learners throughout their educational journeys and praised the resilience of the pupils.

Cembi also noted the efforts made by provincial education departments to ensure a smooth examination process.

She called for tightened security measures to prevent any potential exam paper leaks and to maintain the credibility of the exams.

Sadtu’s secretariat called on leaners to resist engaging in any form of dishonesty, such as cheating.

“Integrity is crucial during this critical period,” it said.

Cembi encouraged parents, teachers and community members to support matriculants as part of the union’s “I Am a School Fan” campaign.

The secretariat has also warned against any community protests or disruptions that may coincide with the examination schedule, saying such actions would unjustly impact learners striving to complete their exams and achieve their dreams.

“Lastly, we encourage all students, from every grade, phase and institution of higher learning to stay calm and focused during this examination season. Every exam, regardless of the level, is important and significant to the learner’s progress,” it said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

A mediation process aimed at resolving the dispute surrounding the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act has concluded inconclusively at the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).

The meeting involved representatives from Solidarity, the Basic Education Department and the Presidency.

It followed Solidarity’s submission of a Section 77 strike notice to Nedlac, which seeks protection for its members during a planned protest march against the legislation to the Union Buildings in Tshwane early next month.

Solidarity deputy CEO Anton van der Bijl confirmed to Inside Education on Saturday that the mediation did not yield a settlement, but indicated that further negotiations would continue in the coming weeks.

Solidarity is deeply unhappy about two clauses in the Bill on language and admission policies in schools.

Following the signing of the Bill into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in September, Sections 5 and 6, which focus on these contentious issues, have been temporarily suspended for a three-month negotiation period.

The Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) has issued a report criticising what it says is the Gauteng education department’s historical hostility towards Afrikaans single-medium schools.

It highlights “troubling” statements from Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi and education MEC Matome Chiloane, suggesting that the legislation could be used to undermine these schools.

SRI head Connie Mulder warned on Friday the law could become “like a brand-new axe in the hands of someone who has been itching for a long time to fell a precious tree”.

Solidarity and its allies have warned that “sparks will fly in the next two months” as they continue with their advocacy and mobilisation efforts.

Advocates for Afrikaans education argue that the amendments threaten the viability of Afrikaans-medium schools, while proponents of the changes assert that the reforms aim to promote inclusivity and equity in education.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

As matric learners spend the weekend preparing for their final exams that start on Monday, education MECs across the country have stressed the importance of not cheating and ensuring that the exams are fair.

Grade 12 learners and education officials signed a pledge on Friday that committed them to the National Senior Certificate examination code of conduct.

Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane was at Ahmed Timol Secondary School in Azaadville, Krugersdorp, where he aimed to reinforce ethical standards among Gauteng’s 189,693 preparing for the exams.

He said the commitment was crucial in combating examination irregularities and fostering a culture of honesty.

“This pledge is not just a formality; it is a commitment to ensure a fair examination process,” he said.

“Reflecting back to 2013, the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) made a critical decision and established a crucial guideline that all candidates preparing to sit for the NSC examination must commit by signing a pledge that reinforces their adherence to the examination code of conduct.”

He urged candidates to conduct themselves with integrity.

Highlighting the severe consequences of cheating, Chiloane warned that any dishonest behaviour during the exams could result in immediate removal from the exam room and nullification of results.

He explained that students found guilty of misconduct would be barred from future examination cycles, underscoring the long-term repercussions of such actions.

The MEC also cautioned against misleading information circulating on social media, including false question papers.

In KwaZulu-Natal, education MEC Sipho Hlomuka was at Siyamukela High School in the Amajuba District.

“Please act ethically and do not jeopardise the credibility of exams. We wish you well,” he said.

He further urged learners not to copy from each other and to rest well for their first exams.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Nkhensani Chauke

The SA Democratic Teachers Union has called on local government to play a more proactive role in ensuring consistency and compliance with food handling and food safety by spaza shops and vendors.

This follows six learners dying and dozens of others being poisoned across the province in recent weeks.

Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said educational and advocacy programmes on food safety and handling were important.

“The union is deeply disturbed by the alarming increase in the number of food poisoning cases involving learners in the month of October following the tragic death of 6 children aged between 6 and 10 from Naledi, Soweto, after they allegedly ate poisoned snacks bought from a local spaza shop,” he said 

On Thursday, 25 learners from Mshuluzane Mayisela Primary School in Zithobeni in Bronkhorspruit were taken to hospital after eating food from street vendors.

Maluleke has commended teachers and the Basic Education Department for responding immediately to the conditions and ensuring that learners received medical attention.

“These incidents highlight the need for permanent psychosocial services in our schools to assist the learners as well as the teachers when such incidents occur,” he said.

“We urge the Department of Basic Education, through the National School Nutrition Programme, to invest in food handlers in schools who are employed by school government bodies by ensuring that they receive proper training on food safety, food handling, have proper infrastructure and resources to handle, cook and serve hygienic food to the learners.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Akani Nkuna

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has urged learners to prioritise their studies during the matric finals, saying it was a great investment in their future.

“You are about to embark on an exciting journey, and you get to chart what that journey looks like. On Monday you begin the journey of your life, so take it seriously and prepare hard. This is about you and your future,” Gwarube said.

The minister attended a pledge signing ceremony at Pretoria Central High School on Friday. The pledge is being signed by Grade 12 learners across the country to uphold the standards and ethics of the exams.

“Nothing is more equipping and empowering than getting that education, and you all are privileged enough to have had a good solid foundation. Now go out there and give it your all,” she said.

Pretoria Central High performed well in the preliminary exams where it produced a 92% pass rate.

Pupil and Representative Council of Learners (RCL) president Daniel Madonsela was full of enthusiasm at the signing ceremony, saying he believed his school would perform well in the National Senior Certificate exams.

“We strive to be active participants in shaping our future, and your presence here today minister I also believe it will push us to want to do well,” he said.

RCL vice president Unathi Ndubane also reiterated the ability to learners to be self-motivated.

“I for one wish to study law at University of Cape Town, and it is that desire which drives me to want to study and pass so I can achieve that dream. I know many of the students have their own goals which they will also study hard towards,” he said.

School principal Samuel Manyasha sang the praises of the teachers.

“Our Grade 12 teachers, today I want to say I cannot appreciate you enough. From January you have been with our children, and for you to have achieved the results where we are right now is truly remarkable,” he said.

“To the class of 2024, in my second year as principal of this school, you have been lovely children to work with,” Manyasha added.

Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane appealed to the learners to thank their teachers who had taught them throughout school.

“Learners you must appreciate your teachers; just to thank them for this 13 or 12 years. Matriculants you are here now, credit you [teachers]. They tolerated you, guided you and helped you,” he said.

Chiloane also encouraged the learners to be calm and cultivate the best state of mind to focus on the exams.

“I want to wish you well,” Chiloane added.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

A mediation process involving Solidarity, the Basic Education Department and the Presidency is set to commence at the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) on Friday in a bid to address ongoing disputes regarding the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act.

The mediation comes in response to Solidarity’s notification of a planned protest against the legislation, scheduled for 5 November at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The introduction of the legislation has sparked significant contention, particularly concerning its provisions related to language and admission policies in schools.

Following the signing of the Bill into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in September, Sections 5 and 6, which focus on these contentious issues, have been temporarily suspended for a three-month negotiation period.

Solidarity CEO Dirk Hermann said the union’s leadership was approaching the mediation with determination.

“We are entering the mediation with an open mind. We have a very strong case and will state our case loud and clear. The government deals recklessly with schools in general and particularly so with Afrikaans schools,” Herman said in a statement.

In preparation for the upcoming protest, the union served a Section 77 notice on Nedlac, seeking protection for its members who plan to participate in the demonstration.

Under the Labour Relations Act, Nedlac is mandated to explore resolutions to such disputes before proceeding with any planned protests.

Hermann emphasised the importance of the mediation, saying that it was crucial to exert pressure throughout the negotiation process.

“The march on November 5 is one part of this pressure. If no settlement is reached after the Nedlac mediation, Nedlac must issue a certificate which will mean that Solidarity members may participate in the march without employers being allowed to take action against them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Solidarity and civil rights group AfriForum are actively engaging in discussions with various political parties regarding the Act.

Hermann hinted at the intensity of the ongoing debates, exclaiming “sparks will fly in the next two months”, and indicated that the discussions were likely to become increasingly heated as the November protest approached.

Despite the mediation efforts, Solidarity has confirmed that the planned march would proceed as scheduled, regardless of the outcome of the Nedlac discussions.

A diverse coalition comprising Solidarity, other Afrikaans organisations, education institutions, parents and communities are expected to participate in the protest.

The controversy surrounding the law has ignited broader discussions about language policies in the country’s education system.

Advocates for Afrikaans education argue that the amendments threaten the viability of Afrikaans-medium schools, while proponents of the changes assert that the reforms aim to promote inclusivity and equity in education.

As the mediation process begins, all eyes will be on the negotiations at Nedlac.

The outcome could have significant ramifications not only for the Solidarity movement, but for the future of language and education policy in the country.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

In a bid to revolutionise sports development in South African schools, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has announced the launch of the Track Plus Field School Athletic Series.

The initiative, set to kick off in January next year, is a collaborative effort between his department, SuperSport, Athletics South Africa, SA Schools Athletics and the Department of Basic Education.

Briefing the media on his first 100 days in office on Thursday, McKenzie emphasised the programme’s objective was to identify and nurture young athletic talent, crowning the top athletics high schools in the country. 

He said the series would be open to all high schools nationwide, with learners under 15, 16 and 17 participating.

“We want to go out and find our athletes,” McKenzie said. 

“We’ve joined forces with a corporate company to make this happen and we’re committed to getting our children off the streets and onto the sports field.”

The minister highlighted the alarming disparity in sports facilities between private and public schools. 

“It can’t be that only private schools have access to quality sporting equipment. We’re changing that,” he vowed.

To bridge this gap, he said the department had allocated R69 million to equip rural and underprivileged schools with essential sporting equipment. 

He added that this investment would enable schools to offer Olympic sports like pole vaulting and wall climbing, which were previously only available in affluent schools.

McKenzie said his vision was to transform the face of sport in the country, starting with the youth.

“A kid in sport is a kid out of court,” he emphasised. 

“That’s our motto. We’re committed to making sports accessible to all, regardless of background or socio-economic status.”

He said the series was part of a broader strategy to re-establish sports as a vital component of school life. 

The ministry recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Basic Education Department to reintegrate sports, arts and culture into the school curriculum.

The launch of the series marks a significant milestone in South Africa’s sports’ development journey.

“We’re back, and we’re going to change the face of sport in this country,” the minister said.

INSIDE EDUCATION