Education

Celebrating purpose, passion and progress with Khululwa Shibani

As South Africa commemorates Youth Month – a time to reflect on the courage, resilience and vision of young people – we turn the spotlight on Khululwa Nosipho Shibani. At just 29, she is not only shaping young minds as an educator at Christiana School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, but also contributing to groundbreaking community research. Her journey reflects the spirit of Youth Month: bold leadership, unwavering dedication, and a passion for building a better, more inclusive future.

Here, she shares her remarkable journey:

Submitted on Thu, 06/26/2025 - 14:14

Teacher education project launches in Italy

Florence, the Italian city made famous by Renaissance artists such as Michaelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, is also a modern-day hub for leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

In May this year, the city ushered in a new phase in STEM teacher education as global partners gathered to launch the Erasmus+ Capacity Building project, aimed at transforming how future teachers learn and teach.

Submitted on Fri, 06/20/2025 - 13:23

Academic offers mental health support to education assistants placed at North West schools

As Phase 5 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) prepares to place thousands of young education assistants in schools across South Africa, support for their mental and emotional well-being is coming into sharper focus. In the North West province, an academic from the North-West University (NWU) is stepping in to provide such support to the 1 326 assistants allocated to the province.

Submitted on Tue, 06/17/2025 - 15:00

Expert warns of long-term risks of schools dropping pure mathematics

When as many as 464 public schools in South Africa have elected to stop offering pure mathematics, the question is no longer about underperformance in mathematics, it is about absence.

While most of these schools still teach mathematics literacy, pure mathematics underpins engineering, science and certain types of problem-solving. When that subject is missing from the school curriculum, the long-term impact on learners and the economy is cause for concern.

Submitted on Fri, 05/23/2025 - 07:53

Holly’s final bow: Lize graduates with her faithful companion by her side

It was a bittersweet day for North-West University (NWU) graduate Lize Marais, who celebrated her academic achievement and marked the final public appearance of her beloved service dog, Holly.

Lize received her Bachelor of Education in Senior and FET Phase in English, on 16 April, with Holly—her steadfast companion since 2018—right by her side. The moment was deeply symbolic, as Holly prepares to retire after nearly a decade of loyal service.

Submitted on Wed, 04/23/2025 - 10:05

Ditsobotla Public School learners inspired by NWU exposure

"Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world." These words by Nelson Mandela encapsulate the spirit of a recent initiative by the North-West University (NWU) Mahikeng Campus Student Campus Council (SCC).

This initiative provided primary school learners from Ditsobotla Public School in Lichtenburg, Boikhutso, with a transformative experience through an induction and university exposure programme.

Submitted on Tue, 04/01/2025 - 10:29

Transforming our world, one seed at a time

On Friday, 7 March, students and staff gathered at the Vanderbijlpark campus garden, near Kumba Residence to take part in an inspiring initiative led by Prof Magda Kloppers and the staff of the School of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (SMSTE) at the Faculty of Education.

The gathering marked the launch of the "Adopt a 4-Door-Sized Spot" Garden Project, a movement aimed at fostering food security, sustainability, and community engagement on campus.

Submitted on Mon, 03/31/2025 - 09:35

Education Association of South Africa awards Prof Elsa Mentz their medal of honour

A mindset change in favour of self-directed learning could solve many of the problems in education and possibly in the workplace too, according to award-winning North-West University (NWU) expert Prof Elsa Mentz.

The Education Association of South Africa (EASA) awarded Prof Mentz the EASA Medal of Honour during its annual conference at Sun City in January.

Prof Mentz is the director of the NWU Research Unit for Self-Directed Learning– believed to be the only such unit in the international education research community.

Submitted on Wed, 02/19/2025 - 14:39