Education
The daily failures of a typical South African school
“You breathe in oxygen through your left lung and breathe out carbon dioxide through your right lung.” That’s what a life-science teacher taught her class at a Cape Town school where I worked for several weeks last year as part of my teacher training.
A teacher
Opinion | 1 April 2015
Rhodes and the politics of pain
A statue that appears to commemorate racism and imperialism occupies a uniquely privileged position on the university campus, causing evident pain to some students, professors and staff.
Jeremy Seekings and Nicoli Nattrass
Opinion | 31 March 2015
Madala goes back to school
A Gugulethu man is a living testimony to the old adage “you are never too old to learn”. At the age of 63 he is back at school to finish his matric after a 46 year absence.
Michael Nkalane
News | 27 March 2015
Fate of Ottery school for child offenders uncertain
Michael Jackson impersonations, singing, rapping and gumboot dancing were on display Friday morning when boys from the Ottery Youth and Education Centre celebrated for Human Rights Day. The centre's hall was filled with students, one after another performing a song, a dance piece or reading a passage to describe what Human Rights Day meant to them.
Mary-Anne Gontsana
News | 23 March 2015
This campaign will change the way our schools are run
This year, Equal Education is running a campaign on School Governing Board (SGB) Elections in South African public schools. Functional, inclusive SGBs are a key component of fixing schools, writes Raphael Chaskalson.
Raphael Chaskalson
Opinion | 19 March 2015
No help for girl disabled by public toilet
Chumisa Fudumele was seven years old when a toilet fell on her, leaving her disabled. A year later, her parents are struggling to get her back into a school.
Zintle Swana
News | 12 March 2015
Khayelitsha students sent home for not paying voluntary fee
Dozens of Grade 12 students were sent home on Tuesday from Qhayiya Secondary School in Khayelitsha because they were unable to pay a “voluntary fee” to the school.
Mary-Anne Gontsana
News | 11 March 2015
Philippi students speak out about police showdown
On 6 March there was a violent stand-off between students from Philippi High School and the police in the Cape Town CBD. GroundUp reported this. Here is a statement issued by the students on the events of that day.
Philippi High School Students
Opinion | 11 March 2015
Double-shift for Cape Town primary school causes tension
The parents of Mfuleni “tent school” students say that they are still unhappy with the arrangements made to accommodate their children. Now, community leaders are threatening to “evict” Bardale Primary School’s principal, if more classroom space is not made available.
Daneel Knoetze
News | 11 March 2015