Author: jacqi

This morning, as we were celebrating our new facebook users that had joined our page, I got the opportunity to hear first-hand from one of our staff what Inclusion had meant to her. I asked if I could share her story, so that others understand that for some of us, we have actually walked the journey ourselves....it's more than just "talking the talk".  I hope you are as challenged and touched as I was. Natalie Watlington (Information and Support) Bali's Story "I remember having a conversation with my friend a few years ago, around how I wanted to work for an NGO that served a greater purpose, one that is very close to my heart at that. I yearned to feel like I was making a meaningful difference in society,…

Mandela Day was inspired by a call Nelson Mandela made, for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices when he said that “it is in your hands now”. One of the greatest social injustices is the exclusion from meaningful participation in learning and development. This exclusion often occurs as a result of intolerance of diversity; conflict and political turmoil; poor policy implementation; lack of political will and adequate state funding; family disruption;  poverty; disability; inflexible school and classroom policies, curricula and teaching styles; and dangerous school and social environments. As an organisation we advocate for the right of all children to quality, equitable, inclusive education. One such way of doing this is by supporting ECD centres and schools to improve their…

Many teachers believe that inclusive education is idealistic and impractical and that we have to wait for the education system to be ‘fixed’ before we can think about it. IESA works with teachers at under-resourced schools, who are trying to support and accommodate the diverse needs of their learners, instead of simply moving them through the system. With some success! These teachers demonstrate that supporting all learners (instead of progressing them through the system) can go a long way to creating a future for our youth. Elsie Bulawa, our schools trainer, began a series of workshops at one of IESA’s project schools in the Eastern Cape in January last year. This is where she met *Ms Debengu, a Grade 3 teacher who felt challenged when she had a learner, *Bulela,…

Poverty – Unemployment – Inequality (1976 – 2016) 1976: ‘The whole system: poor facilities, overcrowded classrooms and inadequately trained teachers’. These are some of the factors cited for the 1976 youth uprising, which started in Soweto in 1976, on the official South African government website in June, 2015.’ http://www.gov.za/youth-day-2015   2016: ‘Young people are hardest hit by the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality,’ said Minister Jeff Radebe, on the occasion of the launch of Youth Month 2016. He outlined various state programmes and initiatives to address these challenges. http://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-jeff-radebe-launch-youth-month-2016-1-jun-2016-0000 Fewer than 40% of learners who start Grade 1 matriculate 12 years later. By DBE’s own admission, this speaks to the internal inefficiency in the system. This has serious economic, social and psychological implications for the youth and South…

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In this article dated 27 May 2016 Robyn Beere Shares how technology has the possibility of capacitating schools to cater for learners with disabilities. Click Here to read.

As this week of Child Protection comes to an end we have asked our director, Robyn Beere, to share some thoughts to challenge us as we continue to move forward. At IESA, whilst we are focussed daily on children and their right to quality education, one cannot help but think more deeply about the issue of vulnerability during child protection week. The news this week seems to be full of stories of abuse, rape and assault on young children and I wonder about whether or not we are protecting our children at all! But it also makes me consider the role schools can and should play. For many South African children school offers the only safe and caring place they know. It is often a place where they receive the…

June 2, 2016 This morning we have another short success story we would love to share with you from one of our ECD trainers.  Hoping you enjoy! Many children start very early in their life at a negative. This is often because of circumstances beyond their control. As an Educare teacher I have seen many such situations. The sad reality of a little life so irrevocably damaged by unknowing adults, who are so caught up with their own troubles, disguised as MOM and DAD. One such example is little *Luke.  When he first came to our centre he was four years old. After some time it became very evident that he had an aversion to females… all females. He had no regard for his teacher and was blatantly disrespectful. He…

South African Education System Fuels Youth Unemployment - Department of Basic Education should act urgently to address school dropout (Cape Town, 31 May, 2016) – “The Department of Basic Education needs to act urgently to address the crisis in education for over 60% of youth who drop out of school without any school leaving qualification and little prospect of finding meaningful employment”, Robyn Beere, Director, Inclusive Education South Africa, said at a roundtable discussion hosted by the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO) in Cape Town today. In 2015 youth unemployment was at a staggering 63.1%, a situation that has dire consequences for the social and economic future of South Africa. “Our youth are becoming increasingly vulnerable as the cycle of poverty into which many have been born is perpetuated. They…

May 31, 2016 Today's blog was written by one of our ECD Trainers, Kauthar Ebrahim, who owns her own ECD centre.  We wish to thank her for sharing one of her success stories which highlights that where we have the passion and drive we can meaningfully include learners as far as possible. Children, when they enter the world they are like blank canvases. Children have the right to our protection. It is our obligation to ensure that every child is given the best of education and in doing so we protect their future. This may even mean going to lengths you never thought possible to ensure this would happen. *David, was 3 years of age, attended our centre, and was not speaking. Mom was convinced that there was nothing wrong with his…