Staff Reporter

The delivery of innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) training through a partnership between Microsoft South Africa and Youth Employment Service (YES) will see 300 000 young South Africans empowered with digital skills, fostering a future of innovation driving employability and economic growth.

The AI Youth Training Platform is an extension of a long-term relationship between Microsoft and YES and was lauded at Monday’s Microsoft South Africa’s A New Era with AI event, which took place in Sandton, as a critical game changer amongst more than 1 000 IT professionals and developers who are leading the charge on AI transformation within the country.

YES and Microsoft curated and developed bespoke training material, creating a training path that addresses the different levels of AI and computer science exposure. The platform is designed to enable all young people to get access to, and awareness of AI – and build skills from Novice through to Expert level.

For many, the world of AI is foreign. Recognising this gap, the introductory AI learning module was designed to provide an entry-level view of AI to the youth, focusing on highlighting the purpose and value of AI to students in a practical yet accessible manner.

“This collaborative effort with Microsoft is a testament to our ongoing commitment to equipping the youth with the digital skills for future-facing sectors and careers.  The significant number of beneficiaries underscores the scale of impact we want to achieve through this partnership,” says Ravi Naidoo, CEO of YES.

From a practical level, this partnership is geared towards creating a surge in job creation and enhanced employability to make significant strides for the country to create a more digitally inclusive economy.

“Together with YES, we are not only addressing the pressing issue of youth unemployment but also helping create a culture of innovation and employability through digital capability building. Microsoft’s approach to AI is based on meaningful innovation, empowering people, and responsibility. 

“This partnership delivers on these three pillars as the means to grow a new talent pool for digital businesses to tap into not only in South Africa, but the rest of the world,” says Lillian Barnard, President for Microsoft Africa.

As young people exit the formal training programme at YES, they will have not only an awareness of how AI can improve how they work and how this could become a career or profession moving forward.  

Participants who complete the AI Expert Module and who meet key criteria, will be eligible for certification.

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Inside Education Correspondent

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has introduced Rangata Attorneys to Khehlekile Primary School in Tokoza and the family of Sibusiso Mbatha, after the Grade 6 learner at the school, tragically took his own life on Monday, 23 October 2023.

Rangata Attorneys will be investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Mbatha and will provide recommendations on how to conclude the matter. 

The law firm has been given five days to conclude their investigations, and their findings will be shared upon conclusion.

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Inside Education Reporter

A study conducted among advanced cancer patients in Soweto has found that most patients who received palliative care and are at the end of life have spiritual needs beyond regular prayers from spiritual leaders. 

Furthermore, patients who received religious or spiritual care had less physical pain, used less morphine and had higher odds of dying where they wished than those who did not. 

The study involving 233 participants was conducted by a team of local and international experts led by Wits researchers. 

Lead researcher Dr Mpho Ratshikana-Moloko from the Centre for Palliative Care in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University says that previous research has shown that religion and spirituality are important to most patients facing life-threatening illnesses. However, this study probed further. 

Using the African Palliative Care Association Palliative Outcome Scale, the research confirmed previous international findings that nearly 98% of the participants had a religious or spiritual need.

The most common spiritual need expressed by patients in Soweto was “seeking a closer connection with their God” and “forgiveness for sins”, says Ratshikana-Moloko. 

This finding is significant because it calls on faith leaders to provide relevant support that responds to the needs of patients. This research-led intervention empowers leaders to move beyond prayer, explains Ratshikana-Moloko.

“This is the first study to assess the spiritual and religious needs, and religious and spirituality care provided to advanced cancer patients who received palliative care in Soweto,” says Ratshikana-Moloko.

Since the study was concluded in 2018, Wits University has developed a course in Spiritual and Chaplaincy in Palliative Care. The first cohort of faith leaders from all religious backgrounds was completed in September 2023. 

Palliative Care to increase

Palliative care is one of the key pillars in illness management among terminally ill patients who are judged by a specialist physician as unlikely to benefit from curative-intent therapy. Often, patients are unlikely to survive beyond six months. 

The South African National Policy Framework and Strategy for Palliative Care (2017–2022) incorporates spirituality into health care. However, palliative care services in South and Southern Africa and elsewhere rarely address these needs, despite available policies, guidelines and evidence.

“We must implement what we know. Integrating spiritual care within the clinical care setting is recommended,” Ratshikana-Moloko. 

South Africa faces a heavy burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. One in six deaths globally is due to cancer, and cancer diagnoses are expected to increase by 70% in the next two decades, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

“Failure to identify and address the religious and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients may increase distress and suffering,” Ratshikana-Moloko.

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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.

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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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