Education

Pregnant girls must be allowed in class

In my school when a girl falls pregnant, her parents are called in and the girl is kicked out of classes. She is only allowed to return after she gives birth.

Sisipho Xhaxha

Opinion | 30 October 2014

City rally against inequality in schools

On Friday 31 October around 2,000 Equal Education members and supporters are expected to gather on the Grand Parade for a rally against inequality in the schooling system.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 30 October 2014

Keeping children safe in traffic

Posters have been put up in four high-risk areas of the city reminding motorists to be aware of child pedestrians in traffic.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 29 October 2014

University elections: SASCO splits

The SA Student Congress (SASCO) has split and a new breakaway organisation has won seats on the Student Representative Councils of the University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape.

Zintle Swana

News | 9 October 2014

Belhar students’ fee battle

With less than a month to go before exams, students at Northlink College’s Belhar campus are worried that they will not be allowed to write because of problems with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

Zintle Swana

News | 8 October 2014

Dressing “sexy” to get a lift to school

Many Mfuleni learners walk to and from school in Khayelitsha every day, but some have found their own mode of transport: they show their bodies to persuade drivers to give them money for transport or a lift.

Pharie Sefali

News | 7 October 2014

The need for special needs schools

A 15-year-old child spent 2013 without an education. Despite the great lengths her grandmother went to, she was unable to be placed in school because of her disabilities. There is a shortage of places for children with special needs.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 29 September 2014

The state of South African Sign Language

The last full week of September, which is Deaf Awareness Month, is the International Week of the Deaf. This year the theme is ‘Strengthening Human Diversity’.

Katy Scott

Feature | 26 September 2014

The rise of female township gangs

When people think of gangs in the townships of Cape Town, they mostly picture young boys and men -- the Vato, Vura, Hardlivings, Palestinians and such. But there are also female gangs, rarely noticed, because they act differently from the male gangs. GroundUp went to talk to some of the “babes”.

Pharie Sefali

News | 18 September 2014

Surviving Rivonia Trialists hold dialogue with school learners

Learners from a number of schools in Cape Town had the opportunity to meet surviving Rivonia trialists when a replica of Nelson Mandela’s prison cell on Robben Island was launched to tour the country.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 17 September 2014

Bullying still rife in schools, finds survey

A survey started in 2011 by the Quaker Peace Centre covering 102 learners has found that 95% of respondents were bullied at some point; of these 50% were bullied at school. The centre is ramping up its anti-bullying campaign.

Pharie Sefali

News | 16 September 2014

Fighting for decent toilets in Gauteng schools

On 13 September Equal Education marched in Johannesburg for decent school sanitation in Gauteng. Brad Brockman, the organisation's General Secretary, explains the campaign.

Brad Brockman

Opinion | 16 September 2014

Mannenberg duo teach more than music

In a classroom at Phoenix Secondary School in Mannenberg, GroundUp spoke to Zakie Johnson and Aziza Davids. They are skilled participants working for the Community Work Programme, a poverty relief government initiative that provides a job safety net for the unemployed. The average daily rate is R63,18.

Katy Scott

News | 10 September 2014

What is UCT’s new admissions policy?

The University of Cape Town is changing its admissions policy to take into account disadvantage as well as race. The new policy is complex. We have tried here to explain it accurately and simply.

Katy Scott and GroundUp staff

Feature | 8 September 2014

Learners try to leave gangsters behind at Khayelitsha school

A year ago, Bulumko High School in Khayelitsha made the news when learners were afraid to go to classes because of gang fights that were happening inside the school and in the surrounding area.

Pharie Sefali

News | 4 September 2014

Education as an elixir for freedom

In 2010 there were 3228 matrics in Khayelitsha’s 19 high schools. They achieved just 44 ‘A’ symbols between them, in all subjects.

Doron Isaacs

Opinion | 4 September 2014