Edwin Naidu

A Math Summit on the Repositioning of Mathematics in the Macro-Development Agenda occurred at the Birchwood Hotel, Boksburg, on 7 June 2024. The Summit, hosted in partnership with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT), was chaired by NECT Chairperson Sizwe Nxasana.

In pursuit of the National Development Plan (NDP) Goals, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has developed a ten-year strategy for improving Mathematics, the National Mathematics Improvement Plan (NMIP), which will be implemented in 2025. 

The overarching strategic intent of the NMIP is to comprehensively and systematically address the persistently poor performance and low participation rates amongst learners across all levels of schooling. To expedite the implementation of the NMIP, a collaboration of the NECT, the DBE, and several actor groups proposes a macro-level support initiative to enhance Mathematics teaching and learning.

The NECT, playing a crucial role in supporting the Ministry of Education and partners, is driving the Summit as a platform to bolster Mathematics education. The focus is on key aspects such as Mathematics participation, performance, and quality passes. The Summit is a collective endeavour to reposition Mathematics in the Macro-development agenda and gather inputs for a national Mathematics support initiative.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, in a powerful statement, reiterated the Government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing Mathematics education. She underscored the significance of instilling a love for Math from an early age, making it accessible and enjoyable for all children regardless of their background, and dismantling the barriers that hinder many from pursuing STEM careers.

The main objectives of the Summit were, therefore, to bring key stakeholders up to speed on the developments and the state of Mathematics in South Africa; to identify multi-level and multi-dimensional strategic opportunities for improving Mathematics participation and outcomes; to strengthen the NMIP conceptions, including exploring a framework for its comprehensive implementation; and to agree on a joint approach to leverage emerging opportunities for enhancing Mathematics participation and outcomes.

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Staff Reporter

THE DBE collaborated with the Gauteng Education Department (GED) and rolled out a School Safety District Support Intervention after identifying challenges in the Sedibeng East and West Districts under the theme: “Capacitate schools in Sedibeng Region to be able to prevent and manage violence in schools”. On the first day, a Local Stakeholder Engagement Meeting was held at the Sedibeng West District Office in the Gauteng Province. 

This meeting included partner departments, local municipalities and relevant civil society organisations to support school violence prevention programmes. The second day featured a school-based workshop at Quest Conference Estate in Vanderbijlpark. The purpose of the meeting, which took place from 3 – 5 June 2024, was to ensure a safe school environment for learners and teachers.

Sammy Maraba, Assistant Director from the School Safety Directorate, delivered a presentation on the National School Safety Framework (NSSF) approved by the Minister of Basic Education in 2015. He stated that the NSSF should be used as a tool to curb violence in schools. 

“The goal of the Framework is to create a safe, threat-free, supportive learning environment for learners, parents, educators, principals, School Governing Bodies (SGBs) and administration, and in so doing, retain learners in schools.” 

He also highlighted some of the NSSF’s objectives, which assist schools in understanding and identifying all security issues and threats, creating reporting systems, managing reported incidents appropriately, and helping schools monitor their progress over time.

Sifiso Ngobese, Director of School Safety at the DBE, said, “there are various challenges facing South African schools, including bullying, learner-teacher encounters, corporal punishment, drug and substance abuse, and dangerous weapons. These challenges have been linked to absenteeism, dropout and expulsions, thus negatively impacting the attainment of quality basic education”.

Speaking on the Protocol for the Management and Reporting of Sexual Abuse and Harassment in Schools, Deputy Director for Social Cohesion, Dululu Hlatshaneni, explained, “This Protocol provides schools, districts and provinces with standard operating procedures and guidelines for addressing allegations of sexual abuse and harassment. 

“It details how schools must respond to reports of sexual abuse and harassment perpetrated against learners and school staff; and outlines an approach that enables educators and DBE employees to identify, intervene, report, and provide support to all learners who are sexually abused or harassed in school; and provides an appropriate response to perpetrators of all forms of sexual abuse and harassment. It is important to note that the legal age of consent to sexual activities in South Africa is 16 years”.

Presenting on learner misconduct and disciplinary procedures, a representative from GDE stated that all schools must have a Code of Conduct that complies with both provincial and national legislation, including public schools with hostels: “When conducting disciplinary proceedings, it is important to ensure compliance with substantive and procedural requirements of fairness in both the suspension and expulsion of a learner. It is crucial to follow guidance on conducting disciplinary hearings and due process to safeguard the interests of the learner and any other party involved in the disciplinary process”.

Over 200 attendees from 50 schools and stakeholders attended the event, which was supported by Social Cohesion, Psychosocial Support, Education Management and Governance Development (EMGD), Health Promotion, and the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign (QLTC). 

Participants shared their knowledge and experiences about the challenges in school safety and discussed implementing the strategies covered during the workshop. Additionally, some expressed concerns about young people’s rising internet usage rate, highlighting the need to educate learners on online safety to encourage responsible digital behaviour.

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Staff Reporter

THE gold-and-silver-coloured world globes at the five-year celebrations of the University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) Future Africa Campus were not just pretty table decorations.

Featuring a golden Africa against silver seas, they symbolised what Future Africa stands for: a collaborative Pan-African research platform with the African continent at its centre and connections that stretch across the globe.

“Future Africa is successful because of your contribution and that of people from different parts of the world,” said Professor Themba Mosia, Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, at a celebratory event held on 24 May 2024.

The occasion marked Future Africa’s first five years, looked ahead to its next five years, and paid tribute to a higher education leader described as a “continental patriot and global citizen” – Professor Ernest Aryeetey, who is retiring as Secretary-General of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA).

ARUA is a network of 23 research-intensive universities from across the continent, committed to enhancing and expanding African researchers’ research quality in Africa.

The alliance has a close connection with Future Africa and UP. Prof Aryeetey recalled his first visit five years ago, coinciding with the opening of Future Africa. At the time, he had been struck by the campus’s eco-friendly character – the first time he had seen this at a higher education institution.

“Thank you to the University of Pretoria for making it possible for ARUA to be part of [Future Africa’s] story,” he said.

Since its story began in 2019, Future Africa has hosted close to 3,000 events and welcomed an estimated 66 000 delegates and speakers from all over the world, among them international figures such as Angela Merkel, former Chancellor of Germany, and Antony Blinken, current Secretary of State of the United States.

But, as Future Africa Director Heide Hackmann reiterated, Future Africa is much, much more than a conference centre.

This was clear from the fact that the university executive had decided “to call us a collaborative platform – not an institute, not a centre, but a platform,” Dr Hackmann emphasised, explaining that Future Africa had both campus and research functions.

As a platform for collaboration, Future Africa provides a “neutral space to convene, catalyse and coordinate big ideas, big initiatives – ideas that are too big for one department or faculty”, she said during a Reflection and Engagement session with UP Deans and Directors, held before the main celebration.

“The notion of neutrality means we do not seek to compete with faculties, but collaborate based on common purpose and shared ideas,” said Dr Hackmann.

Another concept deeply embedded in Future Africa is that of transformation. “The notion of transformation begins to define a unique identity for Future Africa,” Dr Hackmann said. “It’s beyond transdisciplinarity. We are experimenting with a research approach that would unleash and inform processes of deep systems change.”

Future Africa’s research is focused on “challenge domains,” which are very big ideas explored through its five research chairs: African Science and Technology Futures, Global Equity in Africa, One Health (People, Health, Places), Sustainable Food Systems, and Sustainability Transformations.

“This is not just a UP effort,” Dr Hackmann said, noting that the University of Cape Town had seen the value of a Future Africa chair and had come on board to co-host Sustainability Transformations.

“Our next chair could be elsewhere in Africa,” she added, indicating that a priority for 2024 is to launch a new domain on youth education, employment and empowerment.

Overall, Future Africa currently has a portfolio of 30 distinct projects and programmes and external research funding of R60 million, up from R7,9 million at its inception.

“I think we have made the last five years matter,” Dr Hackmann said. “We have laid the foundation; we know how to work, we know what we want to do, we have started engaging with experts across the university and other parts of the world, and we have built a solid team of people who are committed to fulfilling the vision of Future Africa.”

She added that this solid foundation had given her “the courage to accept another position” at Stellenbosch University and that she would be leaving UP in June this year.

“I am so confident that Future Africa is in safe hands, and I look forward to finding opportunities for productive collaboration with each other.

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Staff Reporter

Timoteus, who graduated with a Bachelor of Education in 2022, finished the 10km race – known as the fastest and flattest athletic race in the Western Cape – in 29:27 minutes, ahead of fellow UWC alumni Rowhaldo Ratz and Bruce-Lynn Damons, who crossed the finishing line second and third, respectively.

But the biggest winner on the chilly Saturday morning was always the Cape Town community, particularly the athletics community, with whom UWC used to race to strengthen its ties.

For instance, the Eerste River Athletics Club, of which Ratz, also a BEd graduate in 2022, was a member before securing a Sports Merit Bursary to run and complete his BEd degree in 2020 at UWC, sent a group of volunteers to assist in the organisation of the event.

“The Eerste River Athletics Club is one of the top athletics feeders to UWC, and our partnership with them and other athletic clubs in communities is getting stronger by the day,” commented event director Glen Bentley. “Fast and Flat remains one of the main events that speak to the neighbouring communities regarding bringing the sport to communities.”

The race starts and finishes on the UWC Campus, but a large part runs through the streets of Belhar.

Among other organisations that made the race a resounding success, according to Bentley, were the scouts from Belhar who assisted a water point, Pro-Events who patrolled the routes to ensure the safety of participants, no less than 120 volunteers consisting of UWC Students, parents of athletes as well as student-athletes, and coaches who availed themselves to ensure that the race was a resounding success. The Local Organising Committee comprises various role-players from the UWC Campus Community.

Meanwhile, first-year student Charlton Titus won the junior race category; Caitlyn Mahony took home the women’s category, while legendary Zola Budd (3rd) was one of the top finishers in the 50-59 women’s category. Zola Budd is also Anthony’s current coach.

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Johnathan Paoli

A historic one-year learnership programme has been launched under the theme of the Umcebo Ngemfundo (“Wealth through Education”) to assist in bridging the gap between people living with disabilities and accessing skills, specifically within the finance and accounting sector.

The Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority (FASSET), together with Blind SA, launched a collaborative learnership programme, Umcebo Ngemfundo, on Thursday at the Protea OR Tambo Hotel and Conference Centre.

Blind SA President Christo de Klerk welcomed the event attendees and thanked everyone for their support and work in facilitating this transformative initiative.

“Thank you to those who have partnered with us in one of Blind SA’s most ambitious projects. This is new to us, but we commend you for joining us in this plunge into the dark,” de Klerk said.

Organisers for the launch said with 98% of visually impaired people unemployed in the country due to labour market factors; this programme aims to provide visually impaired people with the skills they need to close the skills gap between education and the workforce.

The programme is expected to illustrate how independence and wealth will be achieved in the lives of the students after they complete the course, especially since they will be employable and earn decent salaries.

Blind SA CEO Jace Nair said the launch marked a historic day in transformation.

He said that just over 10% of the visually impaired have primary education and that it was thus essential to acquire skills and qualifications to reduce unemployment and dependency on social grants within the blind community.

Nair said only 40% of Blind SA’s members had grade 11 or higher and that none of the treasurers operating in the organisation’s 49 branches across the country had any financial or accounting training.

“We also have the challenge that there are just over 24 schools for the blind and that learners at the schools are not exposed to accounting, maths or stem subjects, effectively limiting their access to tertiary institutions,” he said.

The CEO confirmed that 114 applicants applied for the programme over the last month, but as only 50 places were available, further interviews were required.

Nair said 41 out of the 50 places were among the youth, and 31 were women, highlighting the need for transformation within the blind community.

The programme comprises six months of classroom instruction and another six months of hands-on training at organisations like Work Integrated Training Solutions, facilitated by the South African Chambers of Commerce.

The CEO confirmed that face-to-face training would be conducted in the applicants’ home provinces and said that 19 were from Gauteng, with the remainder from the rest of the country.

Nair highlighted the crucial role of placement through private sector partners, which ensures that learners spend at least six months acquiring the experience, ethics, and skills of the working environment.

In addition, the CEO said for these learners to succeed, they require reasonable accommodation and the provision of laptops with screen reading software.

“We have to provide training to our learners so they can use Zoom and other platforms because training is blended online and face-to-face, and we are grateful to receive financial and other forms of support,” Nair said.

Interim Board Chairperson of the FASSET Bongani Mathibela praised the launch of what he called the first of its kind for all organisations involved.

“Our vision is to create valuable learning experiences that make a meaningful impact in the lives of the beneficiaries,” Mathibela said.

He thanked the hard work of the FASSET staff in empowering members of society who were prevented from accessing employment opportunities and contributing to the economy.

Programme beneficiary Wendy Hill from Pretoria thanked the organisations involved. She said she would not have gotten where she did without the help and support of such programmes.

“To be partially sighted is very challenging and very difficult. This is a blessing, from being told you can’t be accommodated to being told there are no facilities for you. I don’t just speak for myself, I speak for 18 others, we are blessed,” she said.
The launch concluded with anticipation of a positive outcome for the program.

“We are certain that it will transform lives and contribute positively towards the country’s economy through harvesting financial stability, accessibility, equal opportunities and inclusion,” Mathibela said.

Induction is expected to start next week, with the programme beneficiaries meeting and organising with the technical team.

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Staff Reporter

Voter education is crucial, but only 52% of respondents in a survey labelled the education campaign run by the Electoral Commission of South Africa as “beneficial” and “somewhat useful.”

In a boost for democracy, a Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) survey found that voters’ trust in the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) was high.

More than 16 million citizens cast their votes in the National and Provincial Elections (NPE) on Wednesday, 29 May, translating into a voter turnout of 58.61%

The HSRC’s preliminary findings on the survey conducted on Election Day, as South Africans voted, marking 30 years since the historic first democratic elections in 1994.

The HSRC released its preliminary findings on Friday at the IEC National Results Operations Centre (ROC) in Midrand. 

Regarding the level of information, roughly 13% stated that they had far too little information, and 10% said they had too little information about the voting procedures.

Meanwhile, 42% said that the IEC website was “very useful” in providing information and education, and 23% said it was “somewhat useful.”

With more than 40 million citizens eligible to vote and 28 million registered to participate, turnout was low.

In the Election Satisfaction Survey (ESS), voters were asked questions about the election process, including whether the 2024 NPE were free and fair. 

The survey aimed to establish the opinions and perceptions of voters and their electoral experience. The research sampled 300 voting stations selected countrywide, proportional to race, geographic type and the number of voting stations in each province.

“Trust in the Electoral Commission was high, and almost all voters felt that they were safe to cast their ballot in secrecy,” the survey found.

According to the HSRC’s Dr Benjamin Roberts, trust in the country’s election management body is at an all-time high of 80%. 

“The trust in the commission remains dominant… Amongst the general public, trust in the commission has been declining, as it has in all core political institutions over the last decade and a half, although the IEC remains among the trusted institutions in the country.

“But obviously, the voting public trust is much higher.” 

Roberts believes this is predominantly because those who had a positive experience left the

aspect of the queuing time, which translates to the institution’s validation. 

“The other reason is that for many South Africans, the predominant response to unhappiness with the function of the political system is the abstention and not electoral turnout. We’re finding increasing polarisation of happier voters and discontent and abstinence. That’s what’s probably driving the positive evaluations,” said Roberts.

Meanwhile, results indicated that voters overwhelmingly believed the 2024 NPE were free and fair and positively rated the conduct of officials at voting stations.

“Almost all voters felt safe to cast their ballot in secrecy,” said Roberts.

The majority of voters also felt that the IEC adequately considered the needs of vulnerable groups, including older people and people with disabilities. 

However, the finding showed that queuing times at voting stations increased relative to more recent elections, which affected electoral evaluations. 

In addition, most voters were pleased with the ballot papers, with 58% indicating they were “delighted” and 35% told researchers they were “satisfied”.

However, 38% wanted to improve the ballot paper for future elections.

In addition, fewer people believe their vote counts than those who think they must vote. 

Shifting the focus to coercion, 12% reported experiencing someone trying to force them to vote for a particular political party or candidate, while nine % said it happened before Election Day. 

Four percent said they were forced by party agents, and four per cent by friends and family. 

“Of those reporting coercion, 73% reported that it had no bearing on electoral choice, 25% said it did, and two were uncertain. This translates into three per cent of all voters who changed their vote,” Roberts said.

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