OP ED: The politics of food: Fighting for pupils’ right to eat

Published by News24 on 17 October 2022  By Stacey Jacobs (Equal Education Researcher), Hopolang Selebalo (Equal Education Head of Research) and Julia Chaskalson (Research and Advocacy Officer with Section27) Every year on 16 October, governments across the world commemorate World Food Day, to raise awareness about those who are hungry and the need to ensure […]

OP ED: Scholar transport: The long walk to school

Published by The City Press on 9 October 2022 By Mcebisi Kunene (Junior Organiser), Jay-Dee Cyster (Equal Education Communications Officer) and Tebogo Tsesane (Equal Education Deputy General Secretary)  October is transport month, in which the department of transport will focus on raising awareness of the role of transport in the economy and society, and aim […]

OP ED: Alcohol in schools — a move in the direction of doom

Published by Maverick Citizen on 24 August 2022 By Pearl Nicodemus (Senior Communications Officer at SECTION27) and Katherine Sutherland (Equal Education Researcher)  Should the Department of Basic Education pass this amendment, it will not only be failing its legal obligation to protect learners from the dangers of alcohol abuse, but it will be proactively assisting […]

OP ED: Schools bill is no betrayal, it’s a belated move to update the law

Published by Maverick Citizen on 4 August 2022 By Roné McFarlane (Equal Education’s Senior Manager for Research and Development) Rather than introducing something new, the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill is just bringing the law in alignment with what cases have already confirmed: the role of school governing bodies is critical, but the State has […]

OP ED: Akuvikelwe ilungelo lokufunda kwabafundi baseSikhumbuzweni Secondary

Published by Isolezwe on 1 August 2022 By Kimberley Khumalo (Equal Education Researcher), Dumisani Buthelezi (Community Leader), Mcebisi Kunene (Junior Organiser) Abafundi baseSikhumbuzweni Secondary School eKZN kufanele bawele umfula ukuze bafike esikoleni esinengqalasizinda engekho ezingeni, “Ngihlala endaweni oyihamba cishe ihora nemizuzu engu-30 ukusuka esikoleni sami. Indaba yokuhamba ibanga elide nokuwela umfula ingithintile kakhulu ngoba yenza […]

OP ED: School meals victory: A moment to be celebrated

Published by News24 on 21 July 2022 By Julia Chaskalson (research and advocacy officer at Section27), Pila-Sande Mkuzo (attorney at the Equal Education Law Centre) and Stacey Jacobs (Equal Education Researcher)  Two years ago, on July 17 2020, the high court handed down a watershed ruling that got school meals back into the stomachs of […]

OP ED: Organised young people are the enablers of a just education system

Published by Maverick Citizen on 16 June 2022 By Sindisa Monakali (Equal Education Chairperson), Tebogo Tsesane (Equal Education Deputy General Secretary) and Yolanda Sewela (Equal Education Deputy Chairperson)  The capacity of young people to organise is a tool for liberation in South Africa’s communities. Young people have long played a key role in the fight […]

Op ed: Mboweni’s budget cuts are undermining the right to basic education

* Published by Daily Maverick on 25 October 2020 By Jane Borman (Equal Education Researcher), Hopolang Selebalo (Equal Education Head of Research) and the Education Working group of the C-19 People’s Coalition No one can dispute that the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for South Africa. Faced with a constrained budget, […]

Op ed: Schoolkids short-changed by the Treasury

Following years of inadequate funding from the government, and now the cost of the Covid-19 pandemic, our public schools are at a breaking point. Schools are struggling to pay their teachers, pupils are without access to textbooks, classrooms are overcrowded, and basics such as water and safe toilets are still not in place for every […]

Op ed: Limpopo infrastructure challenges | Dignity denied

* Published by City Press on 22 August 2021  By Kimberley Khumalo, Equal Education Researcher Infrastructure challenges have continuously plagued schools in Limpopo, with pupils having no option but to use undignified and often dangerous toilets for years. But it was the death of Michael Komape (5), who fell into a dilapidated pit toilet in […]