Education

Lessons from the student protests of the 1980s

Activist Mandy Sanger, who was part of student-led opposition to apartheid through the Committee of 81 in Cape Town, delivered the annual Ashley Kriel memorial lecture sponsored by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation and the University of the Western Cape last night. Here is a brief extract from her speech.

Mandy Sanger

Opinion | 23 October 2015

Statement in solidarity with South African student protesters

Over 800 students and student groups from 200 international institutions have signed a statement of support for the #FeesMustFall protesters.

Over 800 signatories

Opinion | 23 October 2015

“I am inspired by students’ spirit and discipline,” says Kathrada

Hundreds of Wits university students took to the floor of Senate House, dubbed Solomon Mahlangu House, singing loudly upon the arrival of anti-apartheid stalwart Ahmed Kathrada earlier today.

GroundUp staff

News | 22 October 2015

The day the students stormed Parliament

Students pushed their way through the gates of Parliament today as universities across the country closed down in the face of nationwide protests against proposed fee increases.

Ashleigh Furlong, Tariro Washinyira andPasqua Heard

News | 21 October 2015

UCT students defy court order

Students at UCT, protesting at a planned 10.3% fee hike, marched on the university residences today and then on Rondebosch police station to demand the release of students arrested this morning.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 20 October 2015

Students shut down UCT

UCT students uniting under the banner of #feesmustfall and #UCTshutdown protested today against the 10.3% fee increase for 2016. The students demanded an emergency meeting with the university council and a meeting between all vice-chancellors in the country, the Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene and the Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande, to discuss university fees.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 19 October 2015

No birth certificate, no education: how Home Affairs has failed a Cape Town family

When other kids their age are at school learning, Thandeka Plaatjies, aged 10, helps her mother with chores and plays with her siblings – Thandiswa, age nine, and Luthando, age seven – outside their home in Westlake township.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 19 October 2015

Parents want Parliament Primary school principal dismissed

Parents of children at Parliament Primary School, Mfuleni, set up to accommodate children who had been learning in a tent, have demanded that the principal be dismissed.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 13 October 2015

“Why we don’t do maths” - high school students explain

At the end of grade nine South African students are expected to decide which subjects they would like to continue with for the rest of high school. One of the important decisions they make is whether or not they will continue with maths, or take maths literacy. As five students explain, the decision is tough, affects their future, and is not always made freely and based on their true ability and interests.

Sarita Pillay

Feature | 9 October 2015

Why DASO won Fort Hare

In May, the Democratic Alliance Student Alliance (DASO) won SRC elections at the University of Fort Hare. The university has been a stronghold of ANC-aligned organisations. We spoke to student leaders to find out what changed.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

Analysis | 6 October 2015

Why have annual national assessments?

This year’s Annual National Assessments (ANA), which are administered in literacy and numeracy to all learners in grades 1-6 and 9, have been postponed till December following opposition to their administration from teacher unions. How should we understand the value of these assessments, the reasons for the opposition from unions and how the assessments can be improved for the future?

Stephen Taylor

Opinion | 30 September 2015

Getting the facts right on assessments

To test or not to test? That is not the question although it is the way the current row about basic education has largely been presented.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 29 September 2015

How can South Africa redesign its annual national assessments?

South Africa’s major teacher unions and the Department of Basic Education agree: standardized testing can be a useful tool to measure the progress and gaps in a country’s education. But they don't agree on the current format of the tests.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

News | 29 September 2015

Minister wants meeting to break ANA deadlock

Minister of Education, Angie Motshegka, will meet on Friday with stakeholder groups in a bid to resolve the deadlock over the annual national assessment tests (ANAs), scheduled for December.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

News | 29 September 2015

‘One day, people will watch me dance’

“When I finish school, I want to be in a ballet skirt and do ballet for a big crowd,” says six-year-old Anathi Dakuse from Imizamo Yethu.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 23 September 2015

Corruption in schools: stealing our children’s future

On 30 September 2015, thousands will march in Pretoria and Cape Town under the banner of Unite Against Corruption. This is a call across our country to reject maladministration and theft in the public and private sectors.

Amanda Rinquest

Opinion | 22 September 2015