About Equal Education

Thursday, 26 November 2009 20:44

Annual Report 2008

by Equal Education - Admin
(0 votes)

Click here to download the full EE Annual Report 2008. It is quite a large file (7.1MB), so please be patient while the file downloads.

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  • 192 downloads
Thursday, 10 September 2009 22:10

Khayelitsha Leadership Committee

by Equal Education - Admin
(0 votes)

Youth Group Interim* Leadership Committee

Amanda Mbali
Andiswa Mrwetyana
Asanda Mankayi
Ayathemba Njovane
Lwando Mboniso
Lwando Mzandisi
Masiviwe Nohashe
Mnoneleli Ngubo
Nkosinathi Dayimani
Nokubonga Ralayo
Nomzekelo Marala
Ntuthuzo Nzdomo
Olwethu Matyesini
Ongeziwe Mphani
Phathiswa Shushwana
Pheliswa Setati
Shanely Phelemone
Simbonile Tshem
Simthembile Ngamlana
Siyasanga Qomoyi
Thando Nogxaza
Yolanda Mbekeni
Zintle Buya
Nokubonga Ralayo

*Elections will be held at the start of 2010 to formally elect official representatives from all youth structures in Equal Education.
 

Thursday, 10 September 2009 21:52

Full-time Staff

by Equal Education - Admin
(1 vote)

Doron Isaacs, Coordinator
Doron grew up in Durban and attained degrees in finance & law at UCT. He has previously led Habonim South Africa, and Students for Law and Social Justice (SLSJ). He is responsible for the overall management and operations at Equal Education.

Yoliswa Dwane, Head of Department: Policy, Communications & Research (PCR)
Yoliswa grew up in Dimbaza Township in the Eastern Cape and went on to study Media, Film & Visual studies at UCT.  She completed a law degree at UCT in 2007. Yoliswa monitors all education research, news, and law reforms, and is responsible for ensuring all work and activism is based on reliable evidence.

Michelle Adler, Operations Manager
Michelle grew up in Johannesburg and received a B.Com at Wits University where she completed an Honours in Business Economics.  Michelle has recently moved to Cape Town after working in London and Johannesburg. She is responsible for overseeing administration, finances and internal organisational development.

Joey Hasson, Head of Department: Youth & Campaigns
Joey grew up in Zimbabwe, after which he came to South Africa to pursue his studies in the social sciences. He has previously worked for Treatment Action Campaign, the trade union sector, and a research-consulting group.  Joey is responsible for the overall operation of the youth group, seminars, camps and EE’s program of informal education. His department plans campaigns that raise key issues and build the membership of Equal Education.

Lukhanyo Mangona, Researcher PCR
Lukhanyo grew up in Mxaxo in the Eastern Cape, and completed High School at  Bulumko High School in Khayelitsha. He has a background in the mining industry where he worked as a Mineral Processing Technician.  He has always been involved in providing academic support and is passionate about education.  Lukhanyo helps conducts research into education and is responsible for keeping the organisation up to date on law reforms, policy developments and the monitoring of all education news.

Ahmed Mohamed, Parliamentary Officer, PCR
Ahmed is Somalian, and has lived in South Africa for almost ten years. He has a Masters in Economics (first class), and has worked at IDASA and at the University of the Western Cape as a lecturer in economics. He also spent time working in the Public Finance Unit of the Financial and Fiscal Commission, a constitutional body responsible for overseeing budgetary processes in the country. He has published extensively in the fields of HIV/AIDS, taxation, crime, the 2010 World Cup, and the parliamentary budget office. All his work is underpinned by a thorough command of economics. Ahmed’s role is to engage Parliament and to bring MPs to EE.

Mercy Erhiwarien, Researcher, PCR
Mercy is Nigerian. She is currently completing an MPhil in Public Policy at UCT. She has worked at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG). She was also active in a campaign to legislate for a living wage in the state of Maryland, in the United States. Mercy’s focus is the magazine Equal Education.

Lumkile Zani, Administrator
Lumkile grew up in Alice, Dimbaza, Zwelitsha and East London. He completed school at KwaMfundo High School in Khayelitsha. He studied photo-journalism for a year, and later became a chef. He supports the organisation on administrative matters, particularly record keeping of membership, finances, supplies and contact lists.

Nokubonga Yawa, Youth Development Officer for Grade 8 - 9
Nokubonga grew up in Nyanga, Cape Town. She is a presenter on “Siyanqoba Beat It” On SABC. She, along with Lwandiso, plans and leads the youth group meetings, camps, and seminars. She also takes a leading role in campaigns and serves as a direct channel of communication with members.

Lwandiso Stofile, Youth & Development Officer for Grade 10 - 12
Lwandiso grew up in Bulembu in the Eastern Cape. He completed school at Harry Gwala High School in Khayelitsha. He has over seven years of volunteer experience in the fields of sexual and reproductive health and in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  Lwandiso is passionate about his work and especially enjoys his leadership role at EE. He, along with Nokubonga, helps direct the camps and seminars, in addition to planning and coordinating the biweekly youth group meetings.

Luzuko Sidimba, Equal Educator
Luzuko grew up in Cape Town and finished school at KwaMfundo High School in Khayelitsha. He started his work at Equal Education as a youth group member, participating in meetings and attending the camps and has recently joined the organisation as a full-time intern.  Luzuko is a role model, mentor and counselor for EE’s members and serves as a leader of the youth groups.

Zingisani Nkanjeni, Equal Educator
Zingi grew up in the Eastern Cape but and finished school at Esangweni High School in Khayelitsha. He has previously worked with Planned Parenthood Association of South Africa and the Treatment Action Campaign. Zingi enjoys politics and is actively involved in the Young Communist League.  He also actively works alongside youth group members, acting as a role model and mentor.
 

Thursday, 10 September 2009 21:49

Board Members

by Equal Education - Admin
(0 votes)

Mary Metcalfe, Chairperson
Professor Metcalfe is Director General of Higher Education. Until recently, she was Dean of the Faculty of Education at Wits University. She was previously MEC for Education in Gauteng, and Deputy Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. During this time was a member of the ANC PEC in Gauteng. Prior to democracy she worked on education policy for the ANC. She has a history of activism with the Black Sash, Detainees\' Parents Support Committee and the National Education Crisis Committee, amongst other organisations. Mary is a qualified teacher and has worked in teacher training.

Crain Soudien
Professor Soudien is Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Cape Town. Previously he was head of the School of Education at UCT. His interests include sociology of education, race, class and gender; policy shifts in education; museum and heritage education. To date, Soudien has published 58 journal articles and 55 book chapters. He is the founder of the Southern African Comparative and History of Education Society, is a member of the American Educational Research Association, and was the president of the World Council of Comparative Education Societies in 2007. In 2008, Crain was a committee member for the Ministry of Education\'s Teacher Education Advisory Committee, and chair of the Ministerial Review Committee into transformation in higher education.

Zackie Achmat
Zackie Achmat became an activist in 1976, and thereafter became a leading figure in the youth activism that developed in the Cape. As an anti-apartheid activist and ANC member he was repeatedly imprisoned and spent time underground and in exile. He later formed the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality which successfully campaigned for non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. He spent time working at the AIDS Law Project, and in 1998 formed the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) which campaigned prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and for the rights of HIV-positive people. This won Zackie numerous awards, including a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. Recently he founded the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) which works against social inequality and violence.

Nathan Geffen
Nathan Geffen holds a Masters Degree in Computer Science from UCT. He joined the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in 2000 and has since served as its National Manager and Director of Policy, Communications & Research. He is presently Treasurer of TAC. In his position as Director of Policy, Communications & Research, Nathan oversaw all TAC publications, the development of its advocacy around medicines, and the development of materials for mass public education on HIV. His activist interests have included Zimbabwe, Palestine/Israel and the rights of foreigners. His book on the history of AIDS denialism will be published soon.

Doron Isaacs
See bio in staff section.

Thursday, 10 September 2009 21:17

Introducing Equal Education

by Doron
(1 vote)

Mission
Equal Education (EE) movement of learners, parents, teachers and community members working for quality and equality in South African education, through analysis and activism. 
 
Background
15 years after the end of Apartheid, the education received by young people in South Africa remains vastly unequal and of questionable quality. Despite attempts to overhaul the system, class and race-linked inequalities remain entrenched. Education was the foundation upon which inequality was fashioned during the years of apartheid, but unequal and poor quality educational opportunities still remain amongst the greatest obstacles to equality, dignity and freedom in today’s South Africa. 
 
What is Equal Education?
Equal Education is a research driven, community and membership-based organisation. EE advocates for quality and equality in the South African education system and engages in evidence-based activism for improving all of the nation’s schools. We promote the right to equality and education, with the firm belief that these will enable the poor and marginalised to an equal opportunity in life.
 
EE seeks to improve the poor quality of education in South Africa by working together with communities, schools, teachers and principals, learners, parents, academics, researchers and the government. We are building an understanding of the educational system, whilst drawing attention to problems faced by schools and their communities. Equipped with this knowledge, EE offers a new way for people to participate in the democratic system and bring change to education and society.
 
Parents, teachers, religious leaders and community members are increasingly active in EE. Possibly the most active members are called ‘Equalisers’. They are high school students in grades 8 to 12. Equalisers have a leading role in the activities of the organisation. They work with EE to improve schools in their communities, and they set an example to their peers through their dedication to their own education. They participate in meetings in educational and planning meetings on a weekly basis. The organisation currently has over 1000 members.
 
History of Equal Education
The organisation began in 2008 by conducting research in schools in Khayelitsha (a working-class community in Cape Town, with a population of approximately 750,000 and 54 schools). Schools in Khayelitsha are under-resourced and overcrowded – factors which have a significantly negative impact on academic performance. The National Department of Education recently stated, in its Report on the National Senior Certificate results for 2008, that in general, the less resourced a school, the worse its performance. Khayelitsha was among Cape Town’s worst performing areas in the 2008 Matric results, with a 54% pass rate.
 
This is where EE’s head office is. EE aims to support the many hardworking teachers and determined learners within the community who are battling in difficult conditions.
 
Equal Education has now spread to Kraaifontein, where there is an active branch, and other parts of Cape Town including Landsdowne, Wynberg, Rondebosch, and Mitchells Plain. We work closely with an organisation called ‘Save Our Schools and Community’ or SOSAC in the Eastern Cape. We welcome participation from all parts of society. 
 
Major Campaigns to Date

  • EE successfully campaigned for the Western Cape Education Department [WCED] to fix 500 broken windows at Luhlaza High School in Khayelitsha.
  • EE has been assisting Harry Gwala High School in Khayelitha to have its leaking roof fixed.
  • EE ran a ground-breaking campaign against late-coming in 8 Khayelitsha High Schools. In some schools (Esangweni, for example) daily late-coming was reduced from over 100 learners per day to zero. This campaign also spread into other parts of Cape Town and the Eastern Cape.
  • EE is presently running a major campaign for a National Policy on School Libraries.
     
by Equal Education Team
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Directions

Our office is the new concrete building slightly to the south-west of the green arrow in the above map.

To drive here from Cape Town city centre:

  1. Take the N2
  2. Take Mew Way offramp.
  3. Turn left at the top of the offramp towards Blue Downs.
  4. At the T-junction, turn left to Mandalay. The road here is called Old Faure. It becomes Swartklip road.
  5. Keep going on this road. It curves left over the N2.
  6. At a robot, you will see in front of you a broken white wall with black writing on it saying Khayelitsha.
  7. Turn left here. This is Lansdowne Road.
  8. Go until the road is blocked by concrete and rubbish.
  9. Turn right here at the Engen garage.
  10. Go straight down Capital Drive.
  11. You will see a double storey grey block in front of you at the end of the road.
  12. Drive round to the front over the sand.

 

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