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equal educationlatest news & developments
The increase in learners is exacerbated by people relocating to Gauteng, and private-public partnerships are required to address overcrowding. File photo
BASIC EDUCATION

Gauteng needs 200 more schools, says education MEC Chiloane

During the 2023-24 financial year, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape only built one school each

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read
The South African Democratic Teachers Union alleges schools are pressuring learners in grade 10 and upwards to drop maths to protect overall matric pass rates
BASIL MANUEL

Unions slam basic education department over no maths at 464 schools

The South African Democratic Teachers Union alleges schools are pressuring learners in grade 10 and upwards to drop maths to protect overall matric pass rates

  • Umamah Bakharia
5 min read
An organisation says the devices reduce children’s ability to concentrate and learn effectively. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
AI

Push for phone-free schools

An organisation says the devices reduce children’s ability to concentrate and learn effectively

  • Umamah Bakharia
4 min read
Equal Education members engaging in a peaceful demonstration during basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube’s announcement of the matric results in Randburg on Monday. Picture: Equal Education
DBE

Education movements slam high dropout rate for matric class of 2024

The Zero Dropout Campaign has cautioned that the department of basic education should take heed of ‘early warning signs’ to assist learners

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read
In an urgent application brought before the Johannesburg high court, the Equal Education Law Centre wants the right to early childhood development (ECD) to become part of the right to a basic education.
DBE

Gauteng education department has ‘no duty’ to provide ECD centres

The Equal Education Law Centre has launched an application against the department over its failure to provide education to children affected by last year’s Usindiso fire

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read
Equal Education has criticised last week’s medium term budget policy statement for what it said was a failure to provide adequate funding to the education sector. (Madelene Cronje)
BASIC EDUCATION

Equal Education says mid-term budget will entrench inequality

The advocacy group said despite highlighting infrastructure as one of its main pillars, the policy statement offered little in terms of commitments to fixing school…

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read
New Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube. (Photo by Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
BUDGET SPEECH

Siviwe Gwarube: Irresponsible to change school system halfway into academic year

The new basic education minister said she would not implement new policies or programmes without evidence of their value This content is restricted to registered users and…

  • Umamah Bakharia
1 min read
Ministers will assess progress since the Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX 2024) commitment to end learning poverty within a decade, alongside the declarations from last year’s Continental Conference on Education in Mauritania. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
DA

Ramaphosa unlikely to sign Bela bill into law before new administration is in place

The Democratic Alliance has objected to amendments in the Basic Education Law Amendment Bill, saying that it takes power away from parents, and gives it to the government

  • Umamah Bakharia
6 min read
Equal Education has criticised last week’s medium term budget policy statement for what it said was a failure to provide adequate funding to the education sector
ANGIE MOTSHEKGA

Education department will hire temps to fill 31 000 teacher vacancies

The Centre for Development and Enterprise has estimated that South Africa will need 456,000 teachers by 2025 for the country to offer quality education

  • Umamah Bakharia
6 min read
The increase in learners is exacerbated by people relocating to Gauteng, and private-public partnerships are required to address overcrowding. File photo
BELA BILL

Bela bill will go ahead despite opposition from DA

Public hearings on amendments to the South African Schools Act are underway

  • Aarti Bhana
3 min read
Among other things, the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill calls for grade R to be compulsory school-starting age
BELA BILL

Equal Education calls for swift adoption of Bela bill

Among other things, the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill calls for grade R to be the compulsory school-starting age This content is restricted to registered users and…

  • Umamah Bakharia
1 min read
ANGIE MOTSHEKGA

Another year, another tussle over ‘real’ matric pass rate

This comes as the department of basic education says that although there are challenges, public education is ‘thriving’

  • Umamah Bakharia
4 min read
Moderator: Zukiswa Kota, Head of South Africa Programme: Public Service Accountability Monitor.
BUDGET

Bridging the gap: Realigning planning and budgeting in South Africa

Collaboration is key to ensure that budgets actually serve people

  • Jamaine Krige
7 min read
ABAHLALI BASEMJONDOLO
Video

Where are the anti-racism accountability bodies?

The field of such NGOs is crowded but who and what are they holding to account and who are they mollycoddling?

  • Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh
6 min read
The annual competition gives learners an opportunity to work with the Constitution and questions of equality, freedom and dignity (John McCann/M&G)
DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION S ACTION PLAN TO 2024

The true state of South Africa’s schools

South Africa has one of the most unequal school systems in the world. The gap in test scores between the top 20% and the rest is wider than in almost every other country

  • Matthew Sterne
7 min read
Drowned: Avethandwa Nokhangela was not on an official school outing when she drowned, but the education department said it needs to review the role of third parties in school-related activities that take place during school holidays
AVETHANDWA NOKHANGELA

After Avethandwa: Basic education department to review excursions outside school hours

Avethandwa Nokhangela drowned at an Equal Education camp in the Eastern Cape, but the provincial department of education has distanced itself from the tragedy

  • Bongekile Macupe
3 min read
Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
AVETHANDWA NOKHANGELA

Ngcukaitobi joins panel probing learner’s drowning at Equal Education camp

The independent panel will make recommendations on restorative justice for Avethandwa Nokhangela’s family

  • Bongekile Macupe
2 min read
Matric students are currently writing their National Senior Certificate exams which commenced on 30 October and will run until 6 December. (Photo by Roger Sedres/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
COVID 19

Pandemic leaves 1.4bn learners worldwide behind on education

Human Rights Watch warns that learners may take years to recover from the damage caused by school closures

  • Bongekile Macupe
6 min read
AVETHANDWA NOKHANGELA

Avethandwa Nokhangela drowned at an Equal Education camp, and her family wants answers

The family of a drowned schoolgirl says NGO Equal Education must explain why it allowed learners to swim at a dangerous beach with no lifeguards

  • Bongekile Macupe
6 min read
(Mail & Guardian)
ACCOUNTABILITY

Response to the falsehoods about the M&G in Sanef’s media ethics and credibility report

Media houses holding each other to account is essential to a working democracy, but false claims serve only to undermine that goal

  • The Editorial
8 min read