HERE TO STAY: MOTHER TONGUE BILINGUAL LEARNING REINFORCED AS A SILVER BULLET TO SOLVE SA’S DIRE LITERACY CRISIS
2025 has been a watershed year for South Africa’s Mother Tongue-based Bilingual Education (MTbBE) “equaliser” policy. It has also been the year that confirmed the country’s severe literacy crisis. Casting a shadow on South Africa’s ability to achieve its 2030 goal that all 10-year-olds will be able to read for meaning, last week’s release of […]
NEGLECT OF CHILDREN AND THEIR EDUCATION MARS SA’S FUTURE
At a recent UNISA event in Cape Town, a primary school teacher recounted the heartbreaking story of *Shane, an eight-year-old boy from a single-parent home that was ravaged by drug-addiction, who was deemed a “troublemaker” at school. Like his older brother in the past year, little Shane would be gunned down in a gang crossfire […]
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST CHILDREN BLATANTLY DISHONOUR OUR CONSTITUTION
This past week, massive protests erupted across the nation following the harrowing sexual assault of a Grade 1 learner, seven-year-old Cwecwe, at Bergview College, a private school in Matatiele, Eastern Cape. The incident, which reportedly resulted in the drugging and rape of the young child, allegedly occurred in October of 2024. Despite reports that the mother reported […]
MCDONALD’S CONTROVERSIAL DESKS: THE ART OF OBTAINING RESOURCES WHILE AVOIDING COPORATE EXPLOITATION
This past week, the Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has doubled-down on her decision to dole out McDonald’s branded foldable desks to two schools in Cape Town. The dual-purpose foldable desks, which double as wheelie backpacks, have been pioneered by MiDesk Global and donated by McDonalds, were unveiled at the end of February in partnership […]
REFLECTIONS AS WE DRAW TO THE END OF THE YEAR
As the final days of 2024 rapidly approach, the world braces for a whirlwind of reflection, celebration, and anticipation. From the unprecedented inception of the Government of National Unity (GNU), to scooping up six official medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, this year has certainly left an indelible mark on history. As we etch nearer […]
PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA AFFIRMS THE ROLE OF MULTIPARTY PROCESS ON THE BELA ACT
President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted the settlement agreement between the Minister of Basic Education and the Solidarity union on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA). The BELA Bill was passed by the 6th democratic Parliament on 26 October 2023. The President assented to the Bill on 13 September 2024. During the public signing of […]