The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the dismissal of the provincial education department head, Mahlasedi Mhlabane, following allegations of misconduct and tender irregularities involving the shortage of textbooks and the Mpumalanga Schools Nutrition Scheme.

Mhlabane has been under suspension since March this year after it emerged that she altered figures in the department’s annual report to cover her misconduct in connection with the shortage of school textbooks.

She is also facing allegations of corruption involving the multi-million rand Provincial Schools Nutrition Scheme.

Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane confirmed that Mhlabane’s contract will not be renewed as a result of the misconduct and the corruption levelled against her during a provincial legislature sitting, the DA said.

The premier, according to the DA, said her office took charge of the investigation against Mhlabane and with the probe finalised, it was decided not to renew the HOD’s contract.

Mhlabane’s troubles started in March 2017 when 9 Companies took her to court accusing her of irregularly awarding multi-million rand tenders to 17 Companies for the Provincial School Nutrition Scheme, the DA said.

As a result, the Provincial Department of Education is currently facing a lawsuit of over R100 million from the affected companies, the DA added.

By The Book

The DA said it lodged a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) against Mhlabane In October 2017, after becoming aware there were severe shortages of textbooks in Mpumalanga schools.

After a lengthy investigation, the Auditor General found that Mhlabane deceived the department by reporting (in an official report) that 63 percent of learners in the Province received study materials, only to discover that only 36 percent had actually received learning materials.

The DA said it planned to write to the Premier requesting all documents and information regarding the full investigation against Mhlabane.

A joint sitting of the portfolio committees of Basic Education and the Police in Parliament have been briefed on measures to address violence in schools.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said: ” Our main problem is learner on learner violence, which is taking place inside the classroom.”

She added that “The rate of bullying is high in terms of international standards and poorly managed schools tend to have more incidents of violence.”

The minister said community involvement was key to stem the violence in schools.

“Studies have shown that where communities take ownership of their schools, the rate of violence is low. School violence most often occurs on school premises, but it also takes place on the way to and from schools. Bullying is increasingly taking place online and with the use of mobile devices,” she added.

In the latest incident of school violence, a grade 10 learner was stabbed to death by a fellow pupil at the Tokelo Secondary School in Evaton over a cell phone.

Basic Education Deputy Director-General, Dr Granville Whittle, said the National School Safety Framework remained the primary strategic response to school violence.

“It is based on a social ecological systems model, which locates the school within its broader community; it relies on collaboration and partnership. South Africa joined the Safe to Learn global campaign to end violence in schools, in partnership with UNESCO and UNICEF,” he said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared school safety as one of six apex priorities for the sixth administration.

The joint committee sitting heard that two protocols were introduced to address the challenge.

These include the Management of sexual abuse and harassment and Management of Corporal Punishment in 2018; and the Collective Agreement which simplifies and consolidates prosecution of teachers accused of sexually abusing learners.

Several other interventions have been identified, MPs heard, through collaborations between the Department of Justice and the Department of Social Development,

These include the vetting of teachers and other staff and identification of hotspots for most at risk schools.

Learner Support Agents (LSAs) will be provided to all hotspot schools together with the provision of counselling services to victims (and perpetrators) of violence and abuse, the Basic Education department said.

Other measures include considering learner safety when planning school infrastructure, as well as taverns and liquor outlets in close proximity to schools, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, SAPS and South African Local Government Association (SALGA).

Measures also include search and seizures in partnership with the SAPS and the provision of security guards to schools at risk.

Motshekga reiterated that community involvement was critical and that parents needed to play their part and support schools.

“The issue of security guards and the police are welcomed, but the key challenge is what learners do to each other,” the minister said.

The SAPS said school based crime prevention would be intensified and that the collaborative agreement with the DBE would be revised in order to make it more effective, the MPs heard. 

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has expressed shock after a grade 10 learner was stabbed to death by a fellow pupil at the Tokelo Secondary School in Evaton.

It’s understood that two boys got into a fight over a cell phone, which resulted in the 14-year-old suspect stabbing the 17-year-old with a knife in the chest.

Police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo confirmed the arrest of the 14-year-old, adding that he was facing a charge of murder.

“It is alleged that the deceased and the suspect were fighting over the phone when the suspect took out the knife and stabbed the deceased on the upper body. He was certified dead on the scene,” Masondo said.

The Gauteng Education Department dispatched officials from its psycho-social unit to render counselling services to the learners, teachers and all affected by the incident.

Scripted lesson plans (SLPs) aimed at making learners more conscious of issues of Gender Based Violence (GBV), are currently being rolled out in over 1000 schools, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has announced.

The SLP’s are being tested in five provinces, with the twin aims of strengthening the Life Skills curriculum while seeking to make learners more conscious on issues around GBV.

“The Scripted Lesson Plans (SLPs) have been designed to assist educators to teach scientifically accurate, evidence-informed, incremental, age appropriate and culturally appropriate sex education within the Life Skills and Life Orientation (LO) Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) in the classroom,” the department said.

These are currently being tested in 1572 schools across five provinces: Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Western Cape ahead of full implementation. 

The DBE said the SPLs uses a “human rights approach which allows adolescents and young people to develop appropriate life skills to support healthy choices and promote gender equality.” 

The SLPs are additional resources for educators and learners to enhance learning and teaching in the classroom.

Additional resources to engage stakeholders within school communities have been developed in preparation for the provision of sexuality education in schools.

These include School Governing Body Orientation Manuals, School Management Team Orientation Manuals, Teacher Training Manuals and Parent Engagement Manuals. 

The DBE said it scripted the lessons plans to ensure standardised and quality delivery of Sexuality Education (SE) in schools.

The department’s HIV prevention and sexuality education curriculum and co-curriculum programmes have been part of the broader National Response in the fight against the HIV Epidemic, with key programmes such as the ‘She Conquers’ Presidential Campaign and the DREAMS Programme.

As a result of these joint efforts, the department said it’s “pleased to note a steady decrease in the new infections amongst adolescent girls and young women (from 2000 to 1300 infections per week), early and unintended pregnancies (from over 99 000 in 2013 to 82 00 in 2017 pregnancies among learners).”

“Through the provision of sexuality education, the department endeavours to equip learners with the knowledge and life skills that will empower them to make informed decisions and choices to ensure that they live healthy lives and realise their full potential,” the DBE said.

Storytellers, poets and books stacked to the rafters – a reader’s dream – that aptly describes the hive of activity at the launch of the South African Book Fair.

Launched at Constitution Hill Friday, The Book Fair will run until Sunday, which coincides with UNESCO’s International Literacy Day on 8 September 2019.

The day will bring to a close week-long activities that kicked off on 2 September as South Africa marked National Book Week.

The annual National Book Week is an initiative of the South African Book Development Council (SABDC), in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture.

National Book Week seeks to encourage the nation to value reading as a fun and pleasurable activity, and to showcase how reading can easily be incorporated into one’s daily lifestyle.

A 2016 South African PIRLS study revealed 78% of grade 4 learners could not read for meaning in any language.

And according to the SABDC, 58% of homes in South Africa do not have a single leisure reading book. 

National Book Week serves as a precursor to campaign by government and President Cyril Ramaphosa to instil a culture of reading in the country. 

In response to President Ramaphosa’s call to inculcate a culture of reading in the country, the National Education Collaboration Trust, together with the Department of Basic Education’s Read to Lead campaign, launched the National Reading Coalition (NRC).

The National Reading Coalition brings together leaders in education, community, non-profit, government, and the private sector to improve children’s literacy.

Within the NRC, a Presidential outreach programme known as the President’s Reading Circle has been established to instil the love of reading which will be launched in September.

The President’s Reading Circle will also have a web page where President Ramaphosa will update and engage the public on books he is reading.  

Through the book week and fair, the SABDC brings together poets, authors, storytellers and readers gather to encourage a culture of reading amongst the young and old.

Renowned multilingual storyteller and poet Gcina Mhlophe was among the storytellers at the book fair who urged South Africans to grab a book and get lost in a world of adventure offered by reading.

“I’m encouraging all South Africans to please take the time to grab a book read a book, sit down and read especially if you can read in your own mother tongue. Readers are great leaders,” said Mhlophe.

With much of Friday dedicated to the school kids programme, the weekend programme will have talks, workshops, topics and activities for visitors from all walks of life. 

Authors such as Chris van Wyk of Mr Hare Meets Mandela, Tlalane Mofokeng of Sex talk with Dr T, Adekeye Adebajo of The Pan African Pantheon will engage in discussions with readers.

The book fair is open to all at a general admission fee of R10.

A voice boomed over the PA system in the mayoral chamber of the Polokwane Local Municipality.

“I now call upon a member from the Women and Children’s Association,” the chairperson’s voice echoed through the chamber.

Instead of the usual figure of a grey haired adult, a little girl in white shirt and black skirt rose confidently to take up her place on the podium.

A warm round of applause accompanied her short little strides.

This wasn’t a normal council sitting. It was a sitting of a different kind, by a different kind of leader.

A total of 60 learners nominated from different schools around Polokwane were participating in the Youth Parliament.

The sitting formed part of the Children’s Fair programme of the Polokwane Literary Fair.

Now in its eight year, the Fair is described as “multi-disciplinary and concerned with the preservation of South African and continental history and heritage, particularly through a concerted effort in exploring and ensuring prominence of indigenous languages and knowledge systems.“

This year’s highlights include an exhibition of the life and times of Hugh Masekela, the music icon who died of natural causes last year.

It also includes music, live poetry, book launches and a writers in conversation dialogue.

Sepedi literary giants Prof Maje Serudu, Dr Herbert Lentsoane and the late OK Matsepe will be conferred honorary awards while Thabang Tabane, who continues the legacy of his late father Dr Philip Tabane the founder of Malombo music, will deliver a musicians in conversation piece.

The Children’s Fair which started Monday included story-telling, Spelling Bee and Wordathon and writing workshops targeted at learners from various schools drawn from around the Polokwane local municipality.

It also included as one of the highlights the Mayoral Trophy Debate Grand Finale in which learners debated the municipality’s plan to Polokwane into a smart city.

The Youth Parliament debate pitted those who are in support of the use of English as the official language of business and those opposed to the idea.

The learners tackled the subject with a maturity and intellect and the debate is all the more relevant as UNESCO has declared 2019 the ‘International Year of the Mother Tongue.’

Unesco says approximately 600 languages have disappeared in the last century, and paints an even grimmer picture, saying that languages continue to disappear at a rate of one language every two weeks.

Unesco says 90 percent of the world’s languages are likely to disappear before the end of this century if current trends continue.

However the vigour with which the Youth Parliamentarians tackled the issue offered much hope that at least a seed has been planted to ensure that indigenous languages do not disappear.

They argued that although English is a universal language that helps South Africans to communicate with the world and opening opportunities in business; many local people are at a disadvantage because it’s not their mother tongue.

They argued further that learners struggle in school because they are taught in English, a language they hardly understand – which puts them at a disadvantage especially when it comes to scientific languages.

Polokwane executive mayor Thembi Nkadimeng said the Polokwane Literary Fair is an important asset and instrument that facilitates nation building, intra-generational and cultural dialogue, and the preservation of aspects of the history and heritage.