What needs to be done to ensure ECD coding and robotics curriculum succeeds

An early childhood education specialist at the North-West University (NWU) has welcomed the recently published, first-ever draft curriculum for teaching coding and robotics from Grades R to 3. However, she emphasises that some hard work lies ahead if the proposed curriculum is to succeed.

The Department of Basic Education published the…

Toto Tshona: from a small community to the great success story of the NWU

She danced, sang and prayed. For a few moments, the entire Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU) and all the joy in the world belonged to Ntombizanele Beauty Tshona. Because, on a Thursday morning, with the winter sun smiling playfully through the rows of wattle trees, the 38-year-old Toto Tshona received his doctoral degree…

NWU researcher triumphant against all odds

Ontiretse Motingwa

North-West University (NWU) Prof Ferdinand Potgieter, a professor and sub-area leader for discipline in the research unit Education and Human Rights in Diversity (Edu-HRight), recently received notice of his C2-rating as an established researcher from the National Research Foundation (NRF).…

Professor Marietjie Havenga delivers inaugural lecture

An inaugural lecture is considered an important rite of passage in the life and career of an academic.

Professor Marietjie Havenga delivered her inaugural lecture, titled Cooperative problem-based learning in Information Technology: Active learning for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In this lecture, Prof Havenga argued that…

Renowned educationist passed away

A well-known former dean of the Faculty of Education and vice-rector at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus, Prof Dewey de Wet, passed away in the early hours of Saturday, 2 July in his house in Potchefstroom.

Prof de Wet studied at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE),…

Thorny road does not intimidate Jane Fransman

With every stair Tebogo climbs to the stage, with every step he takes across the stage, the heart of his mom, Jane Fransman, beats faster. Thump-thump, thump-thump. Proud beats. When he stops and receives his teaching degree there, in the auditorium of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU), she wants to jump out of her…

58-year-old overcomes adversity and graduates

by Angeline Marokoane

A need to survive drove North-West University (NWU) alumnus Nombulelo Yoba’s constant pursuit of knowledge. Her perseverance paid off, and the 58-year-old proudly stood out from her young peers as she took the stage to receive…

Language short learning programme to bring multilingualism to the forefront

Language traverses borders. It connects us, inspires us, educates us and enriches us. It is the fundamental tool that allows us to connect with each other. And, in a diverse, multilingual society, the more we appreciate each other’s native language, the fewer boundaries there will be between us.

That is why the School for Language…

NWU alumnus leads with agriculture enterprise and women empowerment

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), approximate 70% of the South African population rely directly on agriculture as a means of living.

North-West University (NWU) alumnus and livestock farmer Ipeleng Kwadi hails from Brits in North West, and is shattering age and gender…

NWU master’s student’s passion leads to book about wetlands

Kirsty Kyle, a master’s student at the North-West University (NWU), has recently published an educational children’s book and, after receiving sponsorship for the printing, donated the books to under-privileged schools.

The book, Discovering Wetlands with Piffy, Zenzi and Lucky, is…