WENDY MOTHATA |

PARENTS at Hoërskool Jan Viljoen have called for equal treatment for all learners and equivalent diversity representatives at the school.

On Sunday, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi called for unity at the Hoërskool Jan Viljoen in the west of Johannesburg.

This comes after a violent incident that took place among black and white learners at the school last week.

Lesufi condemned a scuffle between the parents of Jan Viljoen that took place during a previously scheduled meeting, stating that parents must embrace a truly non-racial South Africa and set a good example for their children.

In his opening statement, Lesufi told parents of Hoërskool Jan Viljoen that the school is embarking on an important process of change and he encouraged the management team to decide to enable diversity in the school.

Lesufi informed the parents that an investigation will be conducted with the assistance of the South African Human Rights Commission, and further urged parents to protect their school.

The SAHRC has launched an investigation into alleged racially-motivated clashes between black and white learners at the school.

“The SAHRC will investigate everyone. There is an independent body who is going to investigate everyone and if they say act, I will act decisively, “said Lesufi.

 Addressing the parents and school leadership of Hoërskool Jan Viljoen in Randfontein, Lesufi said, “our purpose is to ensure that we deliver quality education and save our children from the trauma of racism.”

The educators of the school indicated to Lesufi that they need support in managing diversity, and the school management team has risen to the task by actively working on appointing an ethnically diverse group of educators.

One of the parents attending the meeting has disagreed that the fight between black and white learners at Jan Viljoen was not racially motivated.

“I’m speaking on the behalf of parents, what happened, happed we can’t undo it and one thing that I’m 100% sure in my mind is that the incident was not racial. It was kids. This is kids attending a school, kids that want to learn, kids that want to become something in life. Yes, there is a lot of errors and I don’t decline it. Parents, please don’t make this thing a racial or political thing because this is not what it is. This is our kids, this is our school and our teachers. We want our kids to be safe it doesn’t matter the colour. We should stand together, let’s leave what is behind,” said the parent.

A parent to a Grade 11 learner, Nozipho Mabena said that the name of the school must be changed. Mabena pleaded for the protection of the learners at the school against incidents of racism.

The MEC further highlighted the issue of sexual harassment at the school which was raised by the learners. He told the parents that the teacher accused of sexually violating learners has been suspended.

“We thought we were coming to the school to deal with allegations of racism but were met with serious allegations of sexual harassment,” said Lesufi.

Lesufi urged parents to teach children to accept and embrace each other.

 “Education starts at home. Let us teach our children from home to accept and embrace each other. If we don’t do that we will never achieve our dream of non-racial South Africa,” he said.

-Inside Education

STAFF REPORTER |

NINE learners in Mpumalanga have lost their lives while several others have been injured in a horrific accident. This is according to the Mpumalanga Department of Education.

The Department said that the accident occurred around Mpuluzi where a taxi carrying some learners lost control capsised at the Mpuluzi bridge.
“The Mpumalanga Department of Education learnt with shock and sadness about a horrible accident which occurred around Mpuluzi wherein a taxi carrying some learners lost control capsised at the Mpuluzi bridge.”

“This horrible accident resulted in the death of nine learners and several others injured.”

Reports indicate that the accident occurred at about 15H30 on Wednesday.

The injured learners have been taken to several hospitals for treatment of the injuries they incurred.

The affected learners are from Tisiteni, Sitanani and Wesley primary schools.

The MEC for Education, Bonakele Majuba said he is saddened by the accident. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured learners a speedy recovery.

“These are sad and shattering news of the loss of young lives who had a promising future. The Department sends sincere condolences to the bereaved families and wishes them all the strength they can muster in this time of need,” said MEC Majuba.

Officials from the Department visited the affected schools to convey condolences. “Officials from the Department visited the affected schools and bereaved families to render the required support, convey condolences and pay respect to the innocent lost lives. May the Souls of the Departed. Rest in Peace!”

-Inside Education

STAFF REPORTER |

NORTH West Premier Bushy Maape announced on Friday that his administration will set aside billions of rands for some of the public infrastructure projects to be implemented by the department of public works, including the completion of new schools during the financial year.

“Education will expend in excess of R1.2 billion on maintenance and construction of new schools.”

Maape delivered his first State-Of-the-Province-Address (SOPA) in the provincial legislature on Friday morning.

Maape was elected as premier in August last year after the resignation of Premier Job Mokgoro.

“Some of the public infrastructure projects to be implemented by the department of public works include the completion of new schools during the financial year 2022/23; these are Kgabalatsane Secondary Schools, Tlakgameng Secondary School, Tlokwe Secondary School, Tigane Secondary School (Phase2), Kagiso Barolong Secondary School, Monnamere Primary School, Kgetleng Secondary School, Mamodibo High School and Rekgonne Bapo Secondary School,” said Maape.

The Department of Education appointed 4 535 Food Handlers to serve meals to learners during lock down and extended school holidays.

The premier added that the department have enlisted the participation and support of the National Department of Higher Education, Department of Science and Technology, together with the relevant SETA’s.

Maape said for the financial year 2022/23, the following youth programmes will be implemented in the province:

• One Hundred and twenty (120) young people will benefit from the interventions focusing on skills development, in areas of road

marking and pothole patching in partnership with DEDECT and the Construction SETA.

• DEDECT in partnership with Services SETA (SSETA) will recruit 100 young people to participate in the Business Advisory Candidacy Programme and a further 200 in the Business Advisory Skills Programme.

• The Department of Social Development will train additional three hundred (300) youths in terms of the National Youth Service.

• R 11million has been set aside through the Agricultural Graduate Programme to train 120 unemployed graduates, who will be placed at various agricultural farms and enterprises across the province.

–Inside Education

STAFF REPORTER |

THE National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has welcomed the ruling that it was not involved in the erroneous payment of R14 million into the account of Walter Sisulu University (WSU) student Sibongile Mani.

“The scheme said it welcomed the ruling which proved that it was not involved in the erroneous payment made by Intellimali, an independent service provider responsible for the disbursement of funds at WSU,” the statement reads.

This comes after Mani was found guilty and convicted of theft by the East London regional court last week.
Mani’s lawyer argued that she never intentionally tried to deprive the NSFAS of money. However, the State says she knew she was not entitled to the money – but chose to blow R820 000 in 73 days.

The payment was made into Mani’s account on June 1 2017. She allegedly spent R20,000 within two hours of receiving the payment, on items like cigarettes and alcohol.

The money was transferred by Cape Town-based company Intellimali, which was contracted by WSU to disburse funds to its students.
The then accounting student was due to receive her monthly R1 400 food allowance, but because of what was described in court as a “ridiculous and absurd technical glitch”, R14 million was credited to her account.

The NSFAS Spokesperson, Kagiso Mamabolo said that no payment of R14m was transferred into any student or university account intended for Mani by NSFAS.

“The scheme did not suffer any loss of funding due to the erroneous payment. No payment of R14m was transferred into any student or university account intended for Mani by NSFAS,” he said.

Mamabolo said the scheme authorised and paid the normal monthly R1,400 to WSU intended for Mani.

“The CEO of Intellimali confirmed that Intellimali takes full administrative and financial responsibility for the incident,” Mamabolo said.

Mani will return to court on March 8 for pre-sentencing reports.

-Inside Education

STAFF REPORTER |

THE community of Luka Village near Rustenburg in North West woke up to shocking news to shocking news that their school called Ramotse Primary School has burnt down.

According to North West Department of Education the school was burnt on Saturday midnight. The Department’s spokesperson, Elias Malindi said the cause of the fire is still unknown however, they suspect that it was a criminal activity.

The fire destroyed a computer lab, National School Nutrition Programme storage and a block of toilets for the girls and boys.
“The cause of fire is still unknown but the school community suspects that it was criminal activities. The fire destroyed a computer lab with 40 computers, photocopiers, printers, Mathematics lab (1 projector, one screen, manipulative cupboard, interactive board and 18 tables), National School Nutrition Programme storage (food for learners) and Learner Teaching Supply Material (Stationery and textbooks) and a block of toilets for the girls and boys,” said Malindi.

The MEC for Education, Mmaphefo Matsemela condemned in ‘strongest terms the alleged burning of the school. “I take this moment to condemn in its strongest terms the alleged burning of Ramotse Primary school. Such incidents are clearly targeted at delaying the provisioning of education to an African child, “she said.

Matsemela said that those who are responsible should be jailed.

“These incidents are aimed at destroying the right to education enshrined by the South African Constitution. We wish the full might of the law to find those responsible and send them to jail where they belong”, said Matsemela.

The department said the school has opened a case of arson with the local police station.

-Inside Education

STAFF REPORTER|

ELETSA Secondary School Boys Under-16 Soccer team from Letlhabile township near Brits stunned the entire country when they were crowned as the only school to represent South Africa in the Pan African Championships.

The Pan African Championships will be held from 17 to 21 February 2022 in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The North West Department of Education spokesperson Elias Malindi said that Eletsa secondary school won every game the played.

“The Under-16 Soccer team from Eletsa secondary school won every game on their way from Sub – District level, district, provincial and at national level. On the national level they played in the elementary stages then proceeded to the semi – finals. They defeated Grey College from Free State 2 – 1 and in the finals they defeated Clapham Secondary School,” said Malindi.

Malindi said: “As part of the collaboration partnership between the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture(DSAC), the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) have identified South Africa to take part in a pilot inter – school tournament scheduled to take place from 17 to 21 February 2022in the DRC of Congo.”

The South African team will join other five countries namely: Benin, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia.

The MEC for Education, Mmaphefo Matsemela congratulated Eletsa Secondary School for their milestone achievement and wished them good luck in the continental championship.

“I am extremely proud of the achievement of Eletsa Secondary; they have showed that in the North West province there is lot of talent. Our schools do not only provide learners with academic exposure but we also expose them to extra – mural activities. During the matric release Eletsa Secondary school is one of the township schools that has done extremely well irrespective of their locality. They have produced two top performing learners in Accounting and Economics across the province. This clearly shows that schools in the townships and rural areas are dominating the space academically and in extra murals”, said Matsemela.

Matsemela further thanked the Superintendent General, Stephinah Semaswe who supported the team in Bloemfontein. Semaswe send her warm wishes to the entire team in their continental adventure.

The Under-16 Soccer team is expected to leave the country on Thursday, 17 February and will be returning on 21 February 2022.

–Inside Education

“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.”

When former President Nelson Mandela said these words at the Laureus Awards in Monaco in 2000, they inspired Benoni resident Greg Smith to use sport to make a change in his community.

“Listening to that speech inspired me to use sport to bring out the best in youngsters, especially in a way where they can experience something new and grow from that experience,” he said. team, training on Friday afternoons.

The objective was to not only have them play soccer but to come together and learn life skills, such as commitment, confidence, desire to improve and just experience in the enjoyment in what was being achieved.”

After establishing this team, Smith said they made history when they held CBC Parklands to a draw. The winner at the end of the match, he added, was the achievements of what they had set out to do.

Smith has won four u-9 soccer trophies on two continents. He said the achievements were meaningful but the goal was to nurture the youngsters to grow into respectful adults.

Smith has admitted that their goal as educators is to bring the best out of their students. But he wonders what sport defines the community of Benoni.

“What is our preferred sport? Communities in South Africa are defined by a sporting code, what are we? Hockey, soccer, rugby, tennis, chess, etc.?and a stamp in their ity.”

Smith has outlined six outcomes he believes could assist in high-quality school sport:

• Commitment: ensure all learners attend practices on time and are ready. To make sure they commit themselves to the team and understand their responsibility and assist in encouraging fellow learners to join in the sports programme. And making sure they are wearing the correct practice and playing gear.

• Understanding: strive to make sure learners have an understanding of the different styles of thinking needed for the particular sport they are playing, as each sport requires the use of principles, composition and game strategy.

• Confidence: build our learners’ confidence for them to demonstrate what they can do as well as create an environment where they will have the confidence to try a new sport without feeling insecure about their abilities. Teach them that it is ok to ask for help when developing their new skills and being able to talk about what they have just learnt.

• Thinking and decision making: create an environment where learners can work and train without constant coaching and start thinking for themselves. Allow them to ask questions so they can make progress, come up with a range of ideas and strategies to help them improve. Teach them to vary and adapt to what they do, taking into account others’ strengths and weaknesses, and reacting to situations intelligently when performing.

• Desire to improve: ensure learners show determination to achieve the best possible results, get them to compare and evaluate their performance to stimulate the improvement.

• Enjoyment: ensure learners stay keen to take part in what is going on, get learners to talk about what they are doing with enthusiasm, make time to take part in sport and maintain a positive attitude when taking part in school sport.

–Benoni Times

PLAY AFRICA has developed a free, open source curriculum to promote STEM education and climate change awareness in South African learners from an early stage.

Play Africa is a children’s museum based at Constitution Hill and is active across the country’s nine provinces.

Its new curriculum, called STEM Seeds, was unveiled during a virtual launch on Friday, to coincide with International Day of Women and Girls in Science.  

The curriculum is a support resource for educators and practitioners working in early childhood development (ECD), helping them build science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills and climate change awareness in young learners through play.

Play Africa CEO Gretchen Wilson-Prangley told ITWeb the curriculum is designed to work alongside the South African National Curriculum Framework for Children from Birth to Four and CAPS.

The ECD-focused curriculum features ready-to-use techniques and activities that educators can download, as well as a series of freely-available video tools.

It includes sections called “playful educator”, which is about building the educator’s confidence to use playful teaching methodologies to teach STEM.

The “playful classroom” section allows educators to use recycled material to create a STEM centre, where each corner in the classroom is dedicated to science, technology, engineering and maths.

According to Wilson-Prangley, the target market is educators of learners aged three to six, but is still appropriate for up to age 10.

This, she believes, will support early development and school readiness; so that by the time learners enter ‘big school’, they have developed some key STEM skills.

Through its work with ECD centres across the country, Wilson-Prangley said Play Africa found communities were often resource-constrained.

“One of the things that we found is that many ECD practitioners do know that STEM is required for so many different careers; that science, technology, engineering and maths are high-growth areas that will be necessary in a changing world; and there are many ECD educators that know about climate change.

“However, when it comes to figuring out how to take these bigger concepts and apply them in an age-appropriate way through play, a lot of educators revealed they’d sometimes get stuck – they didn’t know where to start.

“When we started to create this resource, we started with educators. We went out into communities and used our Design Thinking process, to find out what they really need and how to provide that to empower them and bring STEM learning and climate change awareness through play into the classroom.

“From these interviews, we heard that educators wanted easy-to-apply, practical tips and resources that they can start applying today.

“One of the things that we heard is that some teachers felt that when it comes to STEM, they think of high-end equipment. We wanted to show educators that you don’t need expensive material to start to teach children about STEM.”

Commenting on the significance of the STEM Seeds launch on International Day of Women and Girls, Wilson-Prangley said it underscores the importance of empowering girls by promoting gender equity in STEM education and careers.

“If we want to equip South Africa’s children for the future, we need to support the creativity and resourcefulness of our country’s early educators.

“This curriculum support for early educators can help children develop new capacities for deeper learning, critical thinking and creative problem-solving through playful learning.”

“Our objective is to help South Africa’s early educators, from all backgrounds and education levels, build the confidence they need to use playful approaches to introduce STEM and climate change awareness in classrooms across the country,” added Rachel Fowkes, programme manager for STEM Seeds at Play Africa.

“Now everyone can help encourage the next generation of South African scientists, coders, engineers, mathematicians and inventors.”

Wilson-Prangley concluded: “Our hope is that this is a locally-relevant resource that is embraced and celebrated by ECD practitioners and becomes a real tool to help them to enliven and enrich their classroom experience. We think that is the transformation we need to see today, to be able to develop the scientists of tomorrow.”

–ITWEB

WENDY MOTHATA |

THE Eastern Cape Department of Education said about 120 Kamvalesizwe Primary school learners, in Kenton-on-Sea, outside Port Alfred have been admitted at the Port Alfred Hospital after complaining of stomach aches and vomiting on Monday afternoon.

Eastern Cape education spokesperson Mali Mtima said: “It is alleged that these learners started showing signs of this after having a meal served at their school during the lunch break period as part of the School Nutrition Program.”

Mtima said that the departmental officials from the district, provincial office and the Department of Basic Education are on site monitoring the situation.

“Departmental officials from the district, provincial office and the Department of Basic Education are on site monitoring the situation. The district office is currently providing psychosocial services to the learners, teachers and parents,” Mtima said.

All the officials and parents are currently waiting for the medical reports on what led to the situation.

“The department is monitoring the situation in collaboration with the department of Health. Currently, all officials and parents are still awaiting medical reports on what led to the situation.”

The spokesperson said that a more detailed statement will be released in due course on any new developments.

A full investigation is now underway.

–Inside Education

WENDY MOTHATA |

GAUTENG MEC of Education Panyaza Lesufi on Monday announced that South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) would step in and investigate the alleged racism at the Hoërskool Jan Viljoen in Randfontein, Gauteng.

Lesufi visited Jan Viljoen High School in Randfontein on Monday following violent incident that took place amongst learners at the school.

Lesufi said that racism and other forms of discrimination should be eliminated.

“The purpose of the visit was to obtain a report from the school leadership on the incident. that occurred at the school on Friday, 11 February 2022,” said spokesperson Oupa Bodibe.

Lesufi said that the incident at the schools reflects ‘deep-seated’ racist attitudes in the schools and community.

He said that the department must ensure that the school is fully transformed and is a safe and welcoming space for all people regardless of their race, class or religion.

“Racism and other forms of discrimination should be eliminated. The incident at the schools reflects deep-seated racist attitudes in our schools and community. We must grasp this opportunity to ensure that the school is fully transformed and is a safe and welcoming space for all people regardless of their race, class or religion. We appeal to everyone to give this process and opportunity and not incite violence,” said Lesufi.

According to Bodibe, Lesufi met with different stakeholders including the SGB, the Principal, the School Management Team (SMT), the Police, the learners and the staff.

“The meeting received a briefing from the School Principal, the SGB and the Police. Subsequently, the MEC met with learner, parents of the affected learners, the learners at the schools and educators. MEC Lesufi also addressed the community that was gathered outside of the school,” Bodibe said.

During Lesufi’s interaction with the learners at the school, one of the learners said, “racism was there in the past, but it’s not like it is now. I’m not safe at Jan Viljoen.”

Another learner said: “What happened on Friday is very wrong however, only white kids are protected in the school. White kids are treated differently but we all pay school fees. We, children from Jan Viljoen we don’t feel safe.”

The school released a statement on Facebook on Sunday, citing that the investigation is underway and guilty parties will be punished.

“The School as well as the Board of Directors have been busy investigating the incident all weekend. We assure you that the guilty parties will be punished in terms of the SA School Law and the school’s code of conduct.”

According to Gauteng Department of Education the following actions will be implemented:

1. Racism from any quarter is condemned and will be attacked;

2. The Principal has collated evidence and has requested anyone with information to come forward with the information. This evidence will be given to the South Africa Human Rights Commission, the Police and the SGB for further investigation;

3. The Police will continue with the investigation of the 4 cases and submit to the NPA for a decision;

4. The South African Human Rights Commission will be requested to investigate allegations of racism and other forms of discrimination;

 5. The SGB must continue with Disciplinary Action against the perpetrators;

6. A staff member employed by the SGB accused of sexual harassment will be placed on precautionary suspensions. Department of Social Development will take statements from any interest party;

7. The Department will implement a programme of Diversity Management to assist the school as it goes through the crucible of transformation;  

8. In-contact classes will be suspended until Thursday 15 February. Lessons will be provided remotely through online and other means;

9. A parents meeting will be convened on Thursday.

–Inside Education