Foundations of Education in Focus: Minister Gwarube’s Engagement at Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网

By: Lance Myburgh

Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 welcomed its alumna, Minister of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, on the 31st of March 2025 for a visit to discuss key education initiatives and engage with students. The event, which took place at the Big Lecture Theatre in the Faculty of Education, underscored the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with national education authorities.

The Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, delivered the official welcome address, highlighting the significance of the Minister’s visit and reaffirming the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网’s commitment to advancing education in South Africa. In his opening remarks, he underscored the urgent need for more practical and well-resourced strategies to strengthen the education system, particularly in foundational literacy and numeracy. Prof Mabizela stressed that addressing these challenges requires bold and decisive leadership, commending Minister Gwarube for her commitment to tackling these pressing issues and leading from the front. He emphasised the fundamental role of literacy and numeracy, stating that "reading and numeracy are cornerstones of personal development, economic progress, political expression, and self-expression."

Ms Babsy Mokombe, the Gadra High School Programme manager, highlighted the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网’s community-based initiatives and their impact on educational accessibility and excellence. Mokombe emphasised that Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 is not only located in Makhanda but is deeply committed to serving the city. This dedication is reflected in the Vice-Chancellor’s Education Initiative, which aims to position the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 as an integral part of Makhanda’s development. These initiatives address critical stages of the educational journey, from early childhood development to the Senior and Further Education and Training (FET) phases.

Minister Gwarube then took the stage for her keynote address, emphasising the critical role of early childhood development as the foundation for lifelong learning. She outlined a strategic vision for basic education, illustrating the stark contrast between two children’s educational journeys. The first child, exposed to reading, complex puzzles, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre, and a preparatory school from an early age, develops strong literacy skills. In contrast, the second child, who lacks access to any ECD programme for the first six or seven years, encounters books for the first time at age seven. By the time they reach Grade 4 and take the national benchmark test, they struggle with reading comprehension—unlike the first child, who has had a head start.

Minister Gwarube admitted that this reality keeps her up at night, highlighting that South Africa’s demographic trends reveal far more children facing the second scenario. She stressed that this challenge extends beyond the Grade 4 benchmark test, affecting the broader educational landscape nationwide. In her closing remarks, she cautioned: "We can obsess about matric results, making children go to school seven days a week, putting them through boot camps, subjecting them to unsafe practices such as walking to school at night, but the guarantee is that it will not make the dent that is required unless we get the foundation of learning right."

Following the keynote address, Professor Eureta Rosenberg, Dean of Education at Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网, facilitated a Q&A session, allowing students and audience members to engage directly with the Minister. The discussion addressed critical concerns, including the accountability of primary school educators in shaping the performance of higher-grade learners, the need for more substantial incentives to enhance foundation-phase education, and the provision of textbooks in underprivileged schools.

The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks to Minister Gwarube, delivered by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships, Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi. She emphasised Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网’s role as a research-intensive institution committed to addressing the challenges outlined by the Minister, including issues in numeracy, literacy, language, and early childhood development. As the Minister departed, Dr Mzilikazi extended an invitation for her to return, fostering further dialogue on these pressing issues and exploring ways Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 can contribute to developing more potent and more effective educational outcomes.