Takudzwa Pongweni

The Democratic Alliance’s motion in the provincial legislature, calling for urgent action to support learners with special educational needs, has turned the spotlight on Mpumalanga’s failing special needs education system. With no primary schools for children with moderate intellectual disabilities and an ongoing boarding crisis, the province faces mounting pressure to implement reforms before 2025.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube's Nedlac deal with Solidarity puts off the implementation of language and admission clauses in the Bela Act until critical regulations are developed. While the deal caused an outcry over potential setbacks to educational transformation, the President says it has no bearing.

A Western Cape Education Department IT contract is under fire after a forensic investigation uncovered serious procurement irregularities. During a Portfolio Committee on Basic Education meeting, calls were made for urgent resolution on the controversial R1.2-billion contract, as the department dug in its heels and the State Information Technology Agency’s internal divisions were laid bare.

The Department of Basic Education built only one school this year, leaving critical infrastructure backlogs unaddressed in provinces such as Eastern Cape and Limpopo. Budget cuts, mismanagement and capacity issues continue to undermine efforts to improve school conditions, while overcrowded classrooms and pit latrines remain the norm in many areas. Experts warn that without urgent intervention, achieving the 2030 infrastructure goals is unlikely.

The Department of Basic Education built only one school this year, leaving critical infrastructure backlogs unaddressed in provinces such as Eastern Cape and Limpopo.

Department of Basic Education finally unveils app to combat school pit toilets, six years after it was promised.

A legal battle is unfolding at Pretoria High School for Girls, with the school’s governing body challenging the Gauteng Department of Education’s investigation into racism claims. High court Judge Mandlenkosi Motha has condemned both the department’s mishandling of the case and former President Thabo Mbeki’s dismissal of the issue, calling for a more transparent and constructive approach to addressing systemic racism in South African schools.

Findings from the 2022 South African Systemic Evaluation paint a stark picture of the literacy challenges facing the country’s learners. Despite ongoing teacher training programmes, many educators report a disconnect between the theoretical pedagogy taught in training and the practical realities of the classroom.

In a groundbreaking development for the African educational landscape, Cheeba Africa Cannabis Academy has secured accreditation for Africa's first Higher Certificate in Cannabis Production & Management. The programme, set to launch in Johannesburg in 2025, promises to equip students with vital skills for one of the fastest-growing industries globally. As cannabis education gains traction, it's not alone in this trend. Fields once considered unconventional — like beekeeping — are also emerging as valuable educational avenues.

Thousands of schools in South Africa don’t have computer labs and many teachers have no coding experience, making it difficult to implement coding and robotics curricula in primary schools. Tangible Africa is trying to address the problem.