Education

Labour backs child beating ban

Sex scandals, amid accusations of conspiracy, strikes and ongoing fears of violence have dominated the news about trade unions over the past week and more. And the spectre of Wonderkop and the dead and crippled miners, both pre and post Marikana has continued to loom large.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 5 August 2013

Riot breaks out at Matthew Goniwe High School in Khayelitsha

A riot broke out at Matthew Goniwe High School in Site B, Khayelitsha from about 1pm to 2pm this afternoon.

Pharie Sefali

Brief | 31 July 2013

Chaotic language policy goes to rights commission

Mr. Zolile Prusente is the curriculum specialist with the regional education department in Upington. Recently, he sent a complaint to the South African Human Rights Commission regarding a problematic shift in language policy in the past year.

Selby Nomnganga

News | 26 July 2013

14-year-old can’t find school to finish Grade 2

Olwethu is a 14-year-old boy whose dreams have been shattered. Due to his upbringing, Olwethu is only doing Grade 2 now at 14 instead of the usual age of 8.

Pharie Sefali

News | 24 July 2013

Zille’s misguided defence of Motshekga

Helen Zille may seem like an unlikely advocate for Angie Motshekga, but she is not. The two have come to each otherโ€™s aid on more than one occasion.

Doron Isaacs

Opinion | 23 July 2013

Gugulethu Primary School invigorates classroom learning

The word Lwazi means knowledge, and it seems that Lwazi Public Primary School in Gugulethu is appropriately named.

Tebello Mzamo

News | 26 June 2013

Equal Education vs Motshekga gets nasty

The struggle between Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, and activist organisation Equal Education, is getting nasty. The Department has accused EE of using whites to mislead black people and EE has accused the Department of racism. EE held Youth Day marches on Monday 17 June in Cape Town and Pretoria. The marches were part of EEโ€™s campaign to get Minister Motshekga to publish a policy on minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure.

Thandile Majivolo

News | 19 June 2013

Bhisho High court to hear urgent case against Motshekga

Equal Education (EE) filed papers on Monday to re-open the case against the Minister for not publishing minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure.

GroundUp Staff

News | 12 June 2013

Organisation helps young prisoners fix their lives

The South African Government hasn't created effective reintegration programs for former prisoners. Young In Prison (YIP) is an organization that addresses the lack of programs for young inmates.

Fergus Turner

News | 12 June 2013

Get Up, Stand Up, Fight like Lerato

On Friday Judge Phalatsi ordered that 13-year old Lerato Radebe be immediately readmitted to her school in Welkom. Every morning since 26 February Lerato was removed from her classroom and marched to the staff-room where she was made to spend the school day sitting idly. This was done because Lerato, whose family is Rastafarian, wears dreadlocks in her hair.

Doron Isaacs

Opinion | 20 May 2013

Recent survey reveals youth hardships

South Africa devotes significant resources to youth development, with 20% of the national government's budget going towards education alone. However, a recent survey reveals that the youth are being increasingly forced to deal with a range of issues such as substance abuse, exposure to crime and violence, inequality and poverty. As a consequence, mental and behavioural issues are becoming more and more evident among learners.

Craig Oosthuizen

Opinion | 15 May 2013

Writers and leaders talk about terrible conditions in schools

Last week GroundUp's Mary-Anne Gontsana reported the terrible state of schools in the Eastern Cape she saw on the "solidarity visit" organised by Equal Education. Today she describes the impressions of some of the well-known South Africans who also participated.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 29 April 2013

Why do learners have to use toilets that look like this?

Equal Education has organised a two-day "solidarity visit" of schools in the Eastern Cape. GroundUp journalist Mary-Anne Gontsana is reporting what she sees. Here is her second report.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 26 April 2013

110 learners in one class in Eastern Cape school

Equal Education has organised a two-day "solidarity visit" of schools in the Eastern Cape. Well-known South Africans, including Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and constitutional law blogger Pierre De Vos, are participating. GroundUp journalist Mary-Anne Gontsana is also taking part, reporting what she sees. Here is her first report.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 25 April 2013

Joe Slovo High School toilets still broken

Nearly a year since we told the story of the state of toilets at Joe Slovo High School in Khayelitsha, the toilets remain broken.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 24 April 2013

My School

Today GroundUp received this short message from Palesa Faith, a high school learner in the Eastern Cape.

Palesa Faith

Opinion | 17 April 2013