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 draft curriculum last year, and Dr Retha van Niekerk, senior lecturer in the Early Childhood Development subject group in the School of Psycho-social Education, says several prerequisites must be met for its successful implementation.

There is an increase in the number of South African young people who are overweight and obese, especially among young females.

This is according to a newly published UNICEF baseline study on diet and physical activity among youth and adolescents for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) prevention in South Africa.

Prof Lebo Gafane-Matemane, an associate professor of Physiology at the North-West University (NWU), is paving the way for the next generation of researchers by carving new paths in cardiovascular health research.

Prof Gafane-Matemane, who carries out her research activities as part of the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) and the Medical Research Council Research Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular disease, is making waves in her field. 

Ontiretse Motingwa

The subject group Animal Health on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, in collaboration with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Mahikeng, recently visited the Lekaleng village close to the campus to offer free rabies vaccinations. 

An exhibition capturing the hopes and dreams of South Africans living in a democratic country since 1994 is currently touring six of South Africa’s university campuses. Members of the management, staff and students of the North-West University (NWU) attended a walkabout at the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus where they could experience Fulbright scholar Prof Peter Glendinning’s “Attached to the Soil” exhibition.

The Business School of the North-West University (NWU) proudly launched its first formal African outreach initiative on 11 August in Gaborone, Botswana. Some 80 delegates from the Botswana government, the formal business sector and staff from various universities attended this glamorous event. The first Business School alumni chapter was also formally launched during the function.

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 in Mathematics Education from the Faculty of Education. 

Ontiretse Motingwa

The Mahikeng chapter of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Debating Union recently hosted a one-day hybrid dialogue session on financial literacy and workplace readiness.

According to Boitumelo Malatji, president of the Debating Union, the union aims to foster meaningful conversations that are of value to the student community. "We want our members and the student body as a whole to talk about important matters that will help them in future.”

North-West University (NWU) Eagles captain Tshepiso Mahlangu did his team and supporters proud when he secured the winning goal in the fourth round of the Varsity Football tournament during the last minutes of a thriller of a game against the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).

The NWU Eagles’ first goal of the game was scored by a header from Thabang Majoro in the fourth minute of the game.

There was colour and sound and merriment until late and all of it for a good cause: welcome back RAG. From 28 to 30 July, Potchefstroom was buzzing with floats, and no cold weather could dampen the enthusiasm of the students from the North-West University.

It was admittedly the first time in the long history of RAG that this charity event was presented in winter – Covid’s fault – but nothing else about the event was tampered with.