The Faculty of Education at the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted its prestigious 2025 FEDU Awards, bringing together academics, professional staff, and key stakeholders from across its three campuses in a vibrant celebration of excellence.

The ceremony honoured outstanding achievements in teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement, reaffirming the faculty’s commitment to academic distinction and meaningful societal impact.

Our researchers continue to receive national recognition for their impactful work across a wide range of disciplines. The North-West University (NWU) has five nominees for the 2025/2026 NSTF‑South32 Awards. This further affirms our standing as a contributor to excellence in science, engineering, technology and innovation in South Africa.

North-West University (NWU) student Makatu Mashanyu has been selected as one of the 100 South African Shining Stars by Inside Education for his contribution to education in disadvantaged communities.

“Being recognised among the 100 South African Shining Stars is both humbling and deeply encouraging. Personally, it reminds me how far I have come as both as a student, while keeping me grounded in the understanding that there is still so much to learn and become,” says Makatu, a PhD candidate in chemical and mineral engineering at the NWU.

The Department of Basic Education’s commitment to increasing psychosocial support for learners and teachers has the potential to deliver long-term gains for education and the country.

At the release of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results, South African education officials, including the Minister of Basic Education, acknowledged the emotional strain caused by examinations, academic pressure and social challenges facing many learners and emphasised the urgent need for support.

By Gosego Phutieagae and Mafumane Tlhapi

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Education hosted a special celebration to honour its most productive researchers and dedicated community engagement practitioners.

The event recognised excellence across a range of areas, including research publications, postgraduate supervision, the securing of external funding and meaningful community-based projects.

By Dr Khido Ramadie

The decision of the Department of Basic Education to invest in psychosocial support for learners and educators is both timely and necessary.

Schools increasingly face the effects of anxiety, trauma, socioeconomic hardship and behavioural challenges that directly undermine teaching and learning. Without adequate psychosocial support, these challenges manifest as poor academic performance, absenteeism, classroom disruption and educator burnout.

On Friday, 31 October, the Siyakhula Sibasha Science Showcase brought community leaders, academics and young innovators together at the Khaya Ibhubesi Conference Centre in Parys. The event celebrated the achievements of all participants in the flagship project, ‘Reimagining Community Education Post-Covid-19: Mobilising Youth as Community Assets to Reduce the Educational Divide in a South African Township”, which ran from 2023 to 2025.

Teachers were the stars of the day as the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a heartfelt celebration in honour of International Teachers’ Day. While the global observance officially takes place on 5 October, the campus commemorated the occasion at a later date, continuing the proud NWU tradition of recognising exceptional teachers across its three campuses.

Dr Moleboheng Ramulumo-Mokhele, senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education and member of the Research Unit for Self-Directed Learning at the North-West University (NWU), recently returned from her visiting scholar engagement at the University of Idaho (USA), where she explored new approaches to early-childhood science education.

At a time when teachers are so often regarded as the unsung heroes of society, growing attention is being paid to the emotional burden they carry on a daily basis. The question is no longer whether teachers are under pressure, but rather how long they can withstand it without severe consequences for their own well-being and for the future of South Africa’s children. Dr Marelize Vergottini, senior lecturer in Social Work at the North-West University (NWU), cautions that the emotional well-being of our teachers is in a state of crisis – one that can no longer be ignored.