Inside Education Reporter

Motoring manufacturer ISUZU Motors South Africa has thrown its weight behind the South African Women’s Hockey Team. 

Marketing Executive Ziphindiwe Ngcobo, says: “We are thrilled to support the South African Women’s Hockey Team on their journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their dedication and core values of passion, pride, unity, and resilience align closely with ISUZU’s own ethos, and we believe this partnership will not only boost the team’s performance but also inspire aspiring female athletes across the country.”

The  SA Women’s Hockey Team is a symbol of excellence and determination. The team is well-prepared to be #BoldBeyondtheField to secure their qualification. Their journey promises to be filled with passion for the sport, pride in their nation, unity within the team, and resilience in the face of fierce competition.

The South African Women’s Hockey Team have consistently demonstrated their passion for the game, pride in representing the nation and unwavering resilience in the face of challenges.

Co-captain of the South African Women’s Hockey Team, Erin Christie, expressed her gratitude for ISUZU’s support: “We are honoured to have ISUZU Motors South Africa as our partner as we embark on this journey to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

“I believe that ISUZU will play a massive role in our Olympic journey. As a team, we did not want to go to the games and just participate – we wanted to go there and compete. We want to inspire young female sportswomen and the generations who will wear our shirts after us.”

ISUZU’s commitment to sports in South Africa goes beyond this partnership. It is a proud sponsor of several sporting properties including IRONMAN South Africa, ATC Multisport, the Vodacom Bulls, Bulls Daisies, Move The Nation Race and the Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer.

“We invite South Africa to rally behind the SA Women’s Hockey team as they embark on this journey to fulfil their Olympic dream. The support of the nation will be an additional source of inspiration for the players as they face formidable opponents from across the continent,” says Ngcobo.

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Inside Education Correspondent

The North-West University (NWU) has bestowed an honorary doctorate on Prof Herman Hubert van der Spuy for his exceptional contributions that have helped shape the South African musical landscape.

Prof Van der Spuy’s influence and contributions as an adjudicator, examiner and adviser at music institutions throughout South Africa earned him this recognition on 26 October.

“This honorary doctorate came very unexpectedly, and I consider it the biggest recognition in my career. I have always wanted to complete another doctorate, and when this came, I felt fulfilled. I have worked with students from various universities throughout my career, including with many talented master’s degree and doctoral students from the NWU, and this makes it even more special,” says Prof Van der Spuy.

Throughout his career, Prof Van der Spuy has made outstanding contributions in the field of music, and he has had an enormous influence through his expertise and involvement. His experience in examining different instruments and voices has made him a particularly versatile examiner with profound knowledge and insight.

He has contributed significantly to developing talented young South African musicians, as exemplified by his work as a former director of Unisa’s Directorate Music. 

His leadership is credited with helping to build Unisa’s graded music exam system to the point where it was able to hold approximately 10,000 certificate examinations and 800 licentiate examinations.

Through initiatives such as the Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition, which carries his name, South African children of all backgrounds have had opportunities to showcase their musical abilities.

His involvement in music extends to having been the former editor of Musicus, the journal of Unisa’s Directorate Music, an adjudicator of music competitions and an external examiner and adviser to several university music departments in the country. This includes the NWU’s School of Music.

Prof Van der Spuy has been an honorary member of the South African Society of Music Teachers since 2003, after serving as president for four terms.

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Lerato Mbhiza

The NGO that looks mainly after white interests – AfriForum – has threatened a legal challenge against the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill because it perceives the Bill as a ‘direct attack against Afrikaans education’.

On Thursday AfriForum joined various other organisations and political parties in front of Parliament to protest against the Bill. 

In a statement AfriForum said since 2017, it has been objecting to aspects of the Bill that will take away parents’ decision-making powers on language and admission policies of their children.

“The organisation views the Bill as a direct attack against Afrikaans education, which will have extremely negative consequences for quality education in Afrikaans single-medium schools in particular, but ultimately also for all South African schools.

“The Bill will centralise more power in the incompetent hands of the State and render communities’ involvement in their schools by way of democratically elected governing bodies meaningless. 

“Currently, the governing bodies have the right to make the final decision on schools’ language and admissions policies, but the bill proposes that this power should henceforth rest with the provincial heads of education, in other words with political appointments. 

“It is being argued that this amendment is necessary to prevent discrimination against learners, but this is a blatant fabrication, as existing legislation provides for the necessary steps to put an end to discrimination, should it occur,” AfriForum said.

In terms of language policy, the bill provides that a school governing body will now be required to submit the language policy of a public school and any amendment thereof to the head of the Education Department for approval.  

“It is unacceptable that political games are being played at the expense of the South African youth, and therefore, AfriForum will follow all possible national and international steps to oppose Bela.” AfriForum added.

The controversial Bill was passed at the National Assembly (NA) on Thursday and will now be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.

The BELA Bill proposes several changes to the South African Schools Act, including transferring control to the Education Department to determine a school’s language policies and curriculums.

The Bill dictates among others, that Grade R will now be the new compulsory school-starting age, and parents who fail to enrol their children for grade R will be formally penalised.

Some of the amendments include penalties for those found guilty of corporal punishment which is no longer allowed at schools.

The Bill further provides that Sign Language has the status of an official language for purposes of learning at a public school. And that the language policy must also consider the language needs of the broader community.

The BELA Bill also bans the consumption or possession of alcohol on public school premises or during any public school activity unless permission has been sought from the Head of Department, and then only under strict conditions.”

It has been heavily criticised by opposition parties, including the DA, ACDP, and Freedom Front Plus.

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Lerato Mbhiza

Unisa has approached the courts on an urgent basis to challenge Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande’s appointment of Professor Ihron Rensburg as the administrator of the institution after Nzimande dissolved the Unisa council.

In a statement, Unisa said the university remains firm on the view that Nzimande’s announcement in a Government Gazette dated 27 October wherein he published the appointment of the administrator, was in contempt of a court order issued on 6 October 2023.

Nzimande said his appointment of the administrator was in line with Section 49B of the Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 19917, as amended. 

However, Unisa has contended that the Minister’s actions were premature; the matter had not been finalised and was still before the court.

“The university remains firm on the view that the Minister’s announcement is premature and in contempt of the court order of 6 October 2023 by [Judge Harshila] Kooverjie that interdicted him from placing the university under administration.

“The same order reaffirms the earlier order of [Judge Leicester] Adams of 24 August 2023, which ordered the Minister not to take any decision pending the finalisation of the interdict application by Unisa, and the Minister’s undertaking not to take any decision until the application to review and set aside the independent assessor’s report would have been heard.

“The university is also of the strong view that the announcement of the minister’s decision at the time when our students are in the middle of examinations is ill-timed and insensitive.

Nzimande’s appointment of Rensburg as the administrator comes after  the recommendations of independent assessor Professor Themba Mosia and the report of a ministerial task team headed by Vincent Maphai.

Mosia’s report found financial and other maladministration of a serious nature that undermined the university’s effective functioning.

Nzimande’s spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi said the Minister had carefully considered Mosia’s findings and recommendations as well as responses from the council and other stakeholders.

“The assessor’s report followed the report of the ministerial task team of August 2021 into the review of Unisa, which also raised serious concerns about the state of administration and governance as well as the quality and sustainability of Unisa as one of South Africa’s most important universities.

“There are strong overlaps and areas of strategic convergence in the findings and recommendations of the reports of the independent assessor and the ministerial task team,” Mnisi said.

Mnisi added that the ministerial task team concluded that, based on the evidence presented to it, Unisa suffers chronic management failures in many of its key support systems and the council was identified as the root cause of the university’s problems.

Nzimande also dissolved the council of the university.

Rensburg has previously served as the Vice-chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg and as the administrator of the Vaal University of Technology in 2021.

“As Unisa administrator, Prof. Rensburg’s appointment is for a 24-month period,” said Mnisi.

“Rensburg will report to the Minister or any delegated officials in the Department of Higher Education and Training in writing on a biannual basis.

“At the completion of his appointment period, he is expected to submit a written report to the Minister within 30 days”.

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Lerato Mbhiza

The second Intellectual Disability Awareness and Career Expo kicked off at Isipho Sethu LSEN School in Vosloorus on Wednesday where parents were urged to support their children living with disabilities.

The event focused on celebrating people with disabilities but also creating awareness on their challenges. And its aim was to contribute to the progressive fulfillment of the inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities into the employment sector to increase their participation in the socio-economic environment.

The school representative, Diggan Mtshali, said parents need to support children with disabilities and he encouraged parents not to be ashamed of their children who have disabilities.

Mtshali said learners with disabilities faced a lot of challenges and some of the challenges include not having matric as some of the special schools don’t offer matric to the pupil. But he encouraged the learners to work hard and be patient with what they do.

The event was also a platform to motivate learners with disabilities, since they are at a higher risk of not getting exposure to the real world.

One of the former students of Isipho Sethu LSEN School, Phumzile Nguni, shared her emotional experience with the challenges that she encountered when exiting the school as a student with special needs.

“Coming from a special school, you need to know that the world is tougher out there, and people with disabilities will be judged from the outer cover. You need to be patient and strong when it comes to work”. 

Five schools were invited to discuss corporate career opportunities and what companies look for when attracting people with disabilities into their employment. Schools such as Dukathole LSEN School, Zimeleni LSEN School, Ezibeleni LSEN School, and Samson LSEN School attended the expo. 

More than 8 % of South African females and 6,5% of males are disabled, yet sourcing and accessing relevant skills within this marginalised sector remains a challenge.

One of the speakers, Sibusiso, from Hius Van Cofifi, said they work with the youth to help people with disabilities. 

“We help the youth develop skills, not just in making coffee but in basic skills, which will help them in their skills.”

“’HVC aims to promote and build opportunities for youth generations that will effectively together forge South Africa ahead through its youth revolution in coffee programs designed for secondary schools.

INSIDE EDUCATION 

Johnathan Paoli

A Life Sciences teacher at Protea Heights Academy in Brackenfell, Western Cape, Dr Mariette Wheeler, has been selected as a Top 10 finalist for the prestigious 2023 Global Teacher Prize.

Wheeler was selected from over 7 000 nominations and applications from 130 countries around the world.

The Western Cape Education department (WCED) congratulated Wheeler and said her dedication to education and making a difference in the lives of her learners has put her where she is.

Wheeler said that she appreciated all the support and considered it an honour to represent Protea Heights Academy, the WCED and the country at the awards ceremony in Paris on 8 November.

“Teachers matter and teachers do so much for the youth of our country, not just in igniting curiosity but also in being there for our learners,” Wheeler said.

WC Education MEC David Maynier congratulated Wheeler on her award and said candidates for the Global Teacher Prize were judged on a rigorous set of criteria to identify an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession of teaching.

“To have a Western Cape teacher in the Top 10 is a real testament to the quality of teaching taking place in our province,” Maynier said.

The Global Teacher Prize is an annual $1 million award by the global educational charity, Varkey Foundation, to a teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession.

The Prize, which has been referred to by some as the Nobel Prize for teaching highlights and celebrates the profession while giving greater recognition to the work of teachers all over the world.

Nominations of teachers who meet specific criteria are open to the worldwide public, with judging being done by the Global Teacher Prize Academy, consisting of head teachers, education experts, commentators, journalists, public officials, tech entrepreneurs, company directors, and scientists from around the world.

This follows on from the National Teachers’ Awards which was held at the Hatfield Christian Church in Thaba Tshwane, Pretoria earlier this month.

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Lerato Mbhiza

The EFF Student Command (EFFSC) President Sihle Lonzi has threatened to open a fraud and corruption case against NSFAS and called for people who were involved in the stealing of the money to be arrested.

“We want to see all those involved in this to be arrested not only to be removed in position but to put on Orange overall.”

Lonzi was speaking at EFF’s Winnie Madikizela Mandela’s House on Thursday a day after NSFAS fired its CEO Andile Nongogo, fingered by the SIU for fraud and irregularities in the awarding of R47 billion contracts to direct payment service providers.

He questions the NSFAS board’s decision in allowing those accused of malfeasance to explain themselves instead of taking action against them for theft.

He also questioned why the contracts of the implicated service providers were not terminated with immediate effect.

“Why are the contracts being terminated in the future and not now?”

Lonzi said the EFF is happy the students’ demonstrations have paid off and the contracts of the service providers have been terminated, while pointing out that the EFFSC has won 16 university SRC leadership positions.

“This shows that we have a majority, and sends a strong message to the ANC that we will remove you from the union building in next year’s general elections”.

Nongogo was fired and the four contractors he appointed to disburse student funding are being terminated after a report by legal firm Werkmans Attorneys and advocate Thembeka Ngcukaitobi, found that not only did he play a role in handpicking the companies, but he had direct links with some of the companies from his previous job as CEO of the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services Seta).

The report also found that Nongogo appointed Dr George Chirwa, who has links with eZaga Holdings and its subsidiary eZaga Remit; Africawide Consulting, and Africawide Foundation as technical advisor.

eZaga and Tenet Technology have denied the allegations made against them, claiming to not have received the full report in which these were made.

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