schoolslatest news & developments
On the right page: Children’s book author and executive director of Nal’ibali, Lorato Trok. Photo: Supplied

Lorato Trok: Writing our languages back into the story

Author speaks of her dedication to keeping indigenous languages alive through children’s books and her hopes for the growth of South African languages

  • Eyaaz
8 min read
Partnership: Schools and parents need to work together to give children the future they need, argues the author, who adds developing resilience and ‘flexpertise’ independently is important for students. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

There’s a quiet crisis in our schools

At the heart of every successful school is a thoughtfully designed educational journey, supported by a respectful partnership between school and home

7 min read
Children in areas such as Lavender Hill on Cape Town are exposed to gang violence and poverty. Photo: David Harrison/M&G

Investing in school principals pays off, particularly in impoverished areas

The Principals Academy Trust and UCT’s Graduate School of Business have teamed up to help principals, who in turn assist teachers, resulting in them being retained and children getting a better education

5 min read
A record 98.31% of Grade 12 learners passed the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations administered by the Independent Examinations Board

‘Good’ matric results do not tell the whole picture of SA education

While education authorities celebrate the 87.3% pass rate for 2024, only 50% of pupils made it from grade 1 to grade 12. And young people also struggle to get jobs regardless of whether they matriculate or not.

  • Eyaaz
5 min read
Ministers will assess progress since the Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX 2024) commitment to end learning poverty within a decade, alongside the declarations from last year’s Continental Conference on Education in Mauritania. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Education department failed to build or renovate schools in four provinces in 2023-24 financial year

Education department failed to build or renovate schools in four provinces in 2023-44 financial year

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read
Fifty-nine learners in Giyani were taken to hospital when they fell ill after eating food provided under their primary school’s nutrition programme as well as snacks. (Limpopo Health Department)

59 learners in Giyani taken to hospital after eating food at school

The pupils fell ill after consuming a meal provided under the school’s nutrition programme and snacks

  • Aarti Bhana
2 min read
The Western Cape education department says it has filled 477 teacher posts despite announcing last year that 2 407 contract teachers would not be reappointed as a result of severe budget cuts.(Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Thuli Dlamini)

Good teachers are undone by bad politics

While political parties bicker over who is to blame, the reality is that millions of pupils in public schools will find themselves crammed into even larger classes, vying for the attention of ill-equipped teachers

2 min read
New modes of digital literacy are just as important as traditional literacy. Photo: File

Building the next generation: How coding and robotics can transform SA classrooms

The basic education department has announced the addition of coding and robotics to the school curricula but many have questioned whether under-resourced schools can effectively offer such a hi-tech subject

  • Eyaaz
4 min read
This is one of the broken ablution blocks at Durban Deep Primary near Roodepoort. The Gauteng education department had promised that a new school would be built years ago, but this has not yet happened, and children are forced to learn in decaying classrooms. Photos: Silver Sibiya

Anger at Panyaza Lesufi for failing to fix Roodepoort school for years

The department committed to replacing the school with a brick-and-mortar structure more than five years ago

  • Eyaaz
3 min read
Emergency services have reported multiple accidents and injuries on wet and flooded roads. Photo supplied

Emergency services in overdrive as rain batters already flood-hit Durban

The South African Weather Service has issued a level 5 warning for KwaZulu-Natal as flooding leaves the province at a standstill, and schools close early

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read