Podcast appearances and mentions of elijah mhlanga

Police investigating the disappearance of journalist Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Precious Mdhluli have found two bodies, believed to be the couple. The discovery was made after suspects in custody led authorities to the location. DNA tests are now being carried out to confirm the identities of the bodies. For more on this we're now joined by African Media and Communicators Forum Chairperson, Elijah Mhlanga...

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong has raised concern over the safety of journalists in South Africa during a visit to the family of missing journalist Sibusiso Ndlovu in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga. Ndlovu, the founder of Capital Live FM, and his partner Zodwa Mdhluli were reported missing in February this year. For more Elvis Presslin spoke to Elijah Mhlanga, Chairperson of the African Media and Communicators Forum, who accompanied the Minister during the visit to Ndlovu's mother

Did you know that there are three special school holidays allocated in April and May this year, which, when taken along with the Freedom Day and Workers Day public holidays, will equate to a full week off from school? Lester Kiewit speaks to Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relebogile Mabotja speaks to Thembi Motana who shared the story of her child being bullied at Sutherland Highschool joined by Elijah Mhlanga, the Spokesperson of the Department of Basic Education who shared the processes that can be followed through government/ district level to assist with the situation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Furore over the 30 percent matric pass mark continued THIS WEEK with Build One South Africa - BOSA - leader Mmusi Maimane announcing that his party had joined hands with some of those who are calling on government to scrap the system. Maimane says a 30% pass mark does not prepare learners to be ready for employment after school. He says he has received a petition signed by some parents and learners who are against the 30 percent pass mark. A clip of Maimane in Parliament on Thursday...For their reaction Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Basic Education Department spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga....

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube have been served with letters of demand by AfriForum and Solidarity, contesting the promulgation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act. The two organizations claim that the proclamation is irrational and unconstitutional, giving the government 10 days to respond. To delve deeper into this matter, Elvis Presslin spoke to Basic Education Department Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga

The Information Regulator has taken legal action to prevent the Department of Basic Education (DBE) from publishing the 2024 matric results in newspapers, citing violations of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). The regulator argues that releasing results, even with anonymized data, breaches privacy laws without consent. The DBE, however, insists on proceeding with publishing matric results, despite a R5 million fine from the Information Regulator for alleged non-compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act. The department's Spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga cites a 2022 Pretoria High Court judgment allowing results to be published using exam numbers to protect students' personal details. A court hearing is scheduled for 7 January 2025 to resolve the matter, just days before the results of the class of 2024 will be released. To get the view of the department ,Udo Carelse spoke to the Department of Basic Education Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga.

The Department of Basic Education says incidents of food poisoning have disrupted teaching and learning. This after a wave of food poisoning incidents rocked schools in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo, affecting over 100 learners and claiming the lives of six children in Naledi, Soweto, last month. The Department reports that the majority of cases occurred during school hours, significantly disrupting teaching and learning. Basic Education Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga sheds more light on this developing story with Elvis Presslin

Were you one of the kids that got exempted from writing your matric exams? Perhaps you had a disorder, or you had a massive sporting event you had to go to? Let's talk about it...  we also had a chat with ELIJAH MHLANGA the Spokesperson of the Department of Basic EducationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak with Elijah Mhlanga, Chief Director of Media Liaison at the Department of Basic Education. He will discuss how the department has equipped schools, deployed qualified markers, and ensured strict security measures are in place to prevent irregularities. As we look ahead to the matric results in January 2025, Mhlanga offers a comprehensive view of what lies ahead for both learners and the education systemSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2024 Matric students are writing their first exam paper today. According to Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube; exam papers have been through quality assurance, printed and security is in place and exam centers are ready. About 727,121 full-time and 155,215 part-time candidates will sit their matric exams — totaling to  882,336 candidates across South Africa. The Education Department wishes all the  matric learners  well, especially because this year's crop of matriculants began high school at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the disruptions having had a lasting impact on their learning. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Elijah Mhlanga,  the spokesperson of Basic Education Department 

The Education quality assurance body, Umalusi , has intensified  its training of external  moderators to tighten its oversight role as  a quality council. Umalusi briefed the media YESTERDAY on the state of readiness saying it is ready to administer the 2024 matric exams. The body also conducted focussed  training sessions with moderators responsible for subjects that have in the past caused public debates. It says there should be no error in the question papers. Meanwhile, uMalusi has raised concerns over the department of basic of education's shortage of marking staff during the exams. Subjects that will be impacted by the shortage are History, English Home Language, Afrikaans first and Additional Language, primarily within Language Paper three. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Elijah Mhlanga, Department of Basic Education spokesperson

Kallie Kriel, CEO of Afriforum, explained why they are opposed to the signing of the Basic Education Laws Amendment into law last Friday, his conversation with the president about not wanting the bill implemented, and why they feel Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi wanting the bill implemented. Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, clarified the confusion around the Basic Education Laws Amendment, particularly the claim that the law is an attack on Afrikaans education.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is launching a groundbreaking initiative, the Literacy Promotion Collective, in collaboration with various stakeholders as part of Literacy Month. This pioneering project seeks to promote inclusive literacy practices that celebrate Africa's rich linguistic diversity, with a focus on advancing reading development rooted in African languages. To delve into the significance and implications of this initiative Elvis Presslin spoke to Basic Education Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga

To give us more insight into what this MOU entails, why this collaboration isso vital, and what we can expect from the rollout of these extracurricularactivities, we speak to Elijah Mhlanga, Chief Director of Media Liaison at theDepartment of Basic Education on the Early Breakfast show with AfricaMelane. Elijah will explain how this initiative will be implemented and theimpact it is expected to have on learners across the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to researchers from the University of Stellenbosch, classrooms made from converted shipping containers have been found to have elevated levels of carbon dioxide as a result of poor ventilation, impairing concentration among learners.  Lester Kiewit speaks to Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, to discuss just how long these temporary structures are meant to be in place for, while waiting for permanent facilities to be built.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will today commemorate the Schools Democracy Week, at the Pace Commercial College in Jabulani, Soweto. Every year in April, the Electoral Commission (IEC), in partnership with the Department of Basic Education launch its annual Schools Democracy Programme to encourage active citizenry among young learners throughout the country. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Basic Education Department Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga

Elijah Mhlanga is the Spokesperson for The National Department of Education and he joins Africa to bring an update on the execution of the first day of school 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The department of Basic Education says it is ready for the re-opening of schools tomorrow. Schools in parts of the country are expected to commence the 2024 academic year on Wednesday. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to spokesperson for the Basic Education Department, Elijah Mhlanga.

Grade 12s from all schools across the country will write their first language papers today. Over 800,000 candidates, most full-time learners, will be taking the NSC exams this year. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshega has warned there will be no mercy for cheating learners. Elvis Presslin spoke to Basic Education Department Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga...

The department of Basic Education says more than three-thousand schools across the country have reported unusual behaviour amongst pupils. This includes learners screaming uncontrollably and other strange behaviour. The department has since taken it upon itself to launch a survey to probe such strange behaviours. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to departmental spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga.

      Clement is joined by Attorney at the Education Rights Programme at SECTION27, Demichelle Petherbridge and Spokesperson for the department of basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga providing an update on the eradication of pit latrines in schools.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Thabo in for Clement speaks to Elijah Mhlanga, the spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education; Matakanye Matakanya, the General Secretary of The National Association of School Governing Bodies and Baxolile Nodada, the DA Spokesperson for Education about the proposals contained in the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patriotic Alliance Leader Gayton McKenzie has reportedly called for preference to be given to local learners ahead of undocumented pupils. This comes as parents struggle to get their kids placed in schools around the country. Meanwhile, Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga says parents' preference for certain schools over others, has led to some learners not being placed. Motshekga was speaking at Kwa-Thema, in Springs, Ekurhuleni, on the Gauteng online application system. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Basic Education Department Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga

The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga will monitor schools in Gauteng as inland schools begin the 2023 academic year this morning. Over one thousand 300 Gauteng grade one and eight learners who applied online, are yet to be placed. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Basic Education Department Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga

Die Namibiese onderwysministerie het gereageer op die Suid-Afrikaanse departement van basiese onderwys gegee wat sê daar is geen kommer oor 'n moontlike tekort aan onderwysers in die komende jare nie. Die departement het sy reaksie gegee op onlangse navorsing van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch se Eenheid vir Navorsing oor Sosio-ekonomiese Beleid. Dit toon 49 persent van die onderwysers in diens van die departement is 50 jaar en ouer en sal in die volgende dekade aftree. Die woordvoerder van die departement, Elijah Mhlanga, sê daar is 'n ooraanbod van nuwe onderwysers. Volgens hom is maatreëls reeds in plek om voorsiening te maak vir die verouderende werksmag. Die uitvoerende direkteur in die Namibiese onderwysministerie, Sanet Steenkamp. gee haar reaksie oor hoe groot die plaaslike onderwystekort is, veral in landelike gebiede.

Die Suid-Afrikaanse departement van onderwys sê verlede jaar se matrikulante kan tot 15 Maart aansoek doen om hul graad 12-eksamens oor te skryf. Matrieks wat hul slaagpunte wil verbeter, moet voor die sperdatum aansoek doen. Wat die hernasien en herkontrolering van antwoordstelle betref wat hulle verlede jaar geskryf het, moet hulle nie later as 3 Februarie daarvoor aansoek doen nie. Die departement se woordvoerder, Elijah Mhlanga, sê minister Angie Motshekga sal die uitslae amptelik op 19 Januarie bekend maak.

Clement is joined by basic education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga and SADTU General Secretary Mugwena Maluleke where they look at an alleged irregularity in some schools, where teachers are accused of helping grade 12 learners to cheat for an exam using a WhatsApp group chat. They show their disappointment and calling for action to be taken against those who are involved in the crime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Thabo is joined by NAISA deputy chairperson Mandla Mthembu and basic education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga where they share more details on how they are tackling a legal opinion from the chief law adviser that says schools that are not using the national curriculum statement are breaking the lawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Die Departement van Basiese Onderwys in Suid-Afrika sê die Nasionale Seniorsertifikaat-eksamen eindig Donderdag. Dit is omdat geleentheid geskep word dat sekere vakke ná ontwrigtings in sekere dele van die land oorgeskryf word. Die departement se woordvoerder, Elijah Mhlanga, sê hulle het gedurende die eksamen versoeke ontvang dat sommige kandidate toegelaat word om sekere vakke oor te skryf. Hy sê beurtkrag, gemeenskapsbetogings en oorstromings is van die redes wat provinsiale onderwysdepartemente as redes hiervoor aangevoer het:

The Department of Basic Education is investigating a Maths question worth seven marks that pupils said was impossible to answer. The suspected Maths Paper 2 mistake was reported nationwide after pupils had written the paper. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Basic Education Department Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga

Africa is joined by Elijah Mhlanga, Spokesperson at Department of Basic Education to talk about the state of readiness for the 2022 NSC Examinations. The Department of Education has released the dates for the 2022 matric exams, which are set to start this morning and will finish on Friday, 9 December 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Matric class of 2022 will begin their final examinations today, amid concerns of disruptions due to load shedding. But the department of Basic Education has expressed confidence that year-end exams can continue despite the ongoing rolling blackouts. For more on this, Elvis Presslin spoke to the Department's national spokesperson Mr. Elijah Mhlanga

Lester Kiewit speaks to Department of Basic Education spokesman Elijah Mhlanga about how foreign national teachers are vetted and absorbed into the system. This comes as Operation Dudula is protesting to see foreign national teachers removed from local posts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Die Suid-Afrikaanse departement van basiese onderwys en verskeie belanghebbendes in die sektor het 'n beroep op Eskom gedoen om gebeurlikheidsplanne in werking te stel vir matrieks wat die voorbereidings-eksamen skryf. Volgens die departement vereis van die vakke, insluitend rekenaar-toepassingstegnologie, en gespesialiseerde skole, ononderbroke kragtoevoer. Die woordvoerder, Elijah Mhlanga, sê die voortdurende kragonderbrekings veroorsaak angs onder die leerders.

Deputy CEO and Head of Legal at FEDSAS, Juane van der Merwe, Spokesperson of The South African Democratic Teachers Union, Nomusa Cembi, General Secretary of SA Principals Association, Linda Shezi and Elijah Mhlanga, Spokesperson of the department of basic education on concerns around the increased violence in schools and ill-discipline of pupils at our public schools. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Die departement van basiese onderwys in die buurland sê hy werk aan 'n strategie om te verseker alle opvoeders wat in skole aangestel word, het 'n skoon misdaadrekord. Dit volg nadat TPN Kredietburo 'n opname bekend gestel het wat toon daar is 'n toename in onderwysers met misdaadrekords en wat versuim om hul misdaad-status te verklaar wanneer hulle aansoek doen vir poste. Die departement se woordvoerder, Elijah Mhlanga, sê kommer bestaan dat dit probleme in die stelsel kan veroorsaak.

At least half of South Africa's teachers are in their fifties and in ten or so years, South Africa will lose at least half of its teachers. This is according to Julian Hewitt, Chief Executive Officer of the educator bursary program, the Jake Gerwell Fellowship who says the issue goes down to retirement and not lack of skills and ability. The Institute of Risk Management South Africa report also says that due to national policy and curriculum misalignments, limited focus on skills that are and will be in demand, and poor adoption of digitalization, shows that South Africa does not have the skills it requires at the time when we actually need them. To further discuss this Elvis Presslin spoke to Basic Education Department Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Departement van Basiese Onderwys het aangekondig hy ontwikkel 'n strategiese plan om Suid-Afrikaanse tale te bevorder wat in skole gemarginaliseer is. Die departement se woordvoerder, Elijah Mhlanga, sê inheemse tale gaan ingespan word vir leer en onderrig in Graad 3 tot 12. Mhlanga sê moedertaalonderrig sal leerders in staat stel om te beter te leer en te begryp deur van hulle huistaal gebruik te maak:

Police are on high alert nationally amid threats of a national shutdown on Friday, and a spokesperson says law enforcement officers have been deployed to "prevent and combat any forms of criminality". In a statement, the police said they were aware of "unsigned messages and posters circulating on various social media platforms calling for a national shutdown". "Those behind these messages are warned and reminded that prohibiting people's freedom of movement is a criminal offence. Members of the public are therefore cautioned against spreading such messages that seek to mobilise communities to respond to the shutdown," National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said. Mathe said the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) met on Wednesday for a briefing by the Intelligence Coordinating Committee on the credibility of the calls for a national shutdown. "The intelligence community is closely monitoring the situation and the associated risks. With this said, law enforcement officers have been deployed and are on high alert to prevent and combat any forms of criminality," said Mathe. The protests are reportedly linked to the recent spike in fuel prices and associated increases in taxi fares. Petrol prices increased by R2.43 per litre last week. The cost of diesel climbed by more than R1 a litre. The shutdown also sparked calls for school closures, but Department of Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the department would proceed with normal schooling on Friday. He said the department was aware of the reports of a shutdown. "We trust that the law enforcement agencies will do their work to manage the situation," he said. Meanwhile, two taxi associations – the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) and the National Taxi Alliance – have been linked to the national protest action. However, both associations have distanced themselves from the shutdown rumours. Santaco chief strategic manager Bafana Magagula was not available for comment at the time of publication. However, the organisation said on social media that it would not be part of any mass action on Friday. "Santaco has never lobbied any organisation for a national shutdown and is not even planning any shutdown. We still, however, hold the strongest view that there's an urgent intervention needed from [government], and this despite looming taxi fare increases," the organisation said in a tweet. National Taxi Alliance spokesperson Theo Malele said the organisation would not participate in any protest action. "We first want to ensure that we've exhausted all avenues of dialogue with the government. Only if that fails will we look at forging ahead with like-minded businesses and civil society groups to plan a national shutdown. We don't know who is planning Friday's shutdown," Malele added. Malele said the organisation was forced to consider an increase in taxi fares due to rising fuel costs, and this was likely to be made public within the next three weeks. "It's most unfortunate but we now finally have to increase fares. We've been forced to increase fares by circumstances beyond us. Some members of the industry are losing their cars because they can't meet their financial obligations, directly because of pressures of fuel prices skyrocketing," he added. In a statement, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport welcomed the decision by the taxi industry not to participate in the shutdown. The department said the taxi industry had agreed on an urgent engagement with the government to find measures to mitigate the impact of ongoing petrol price hikes on their operations. The meeting is expected to take place on Friday. Labour union Cosatu was also linked to the protest but said it had no plans to embark on any mass action. "Cosatu would need to engage affiliates for a mandate. Affiliates would have to engage members and workers to receive a mandate. Workers would need to be balloted. A Section 77 certificate would need to be a...

Coastal schools have reopened on Wednesday for the 2022 academic year. Some schools have been affected by severe thunderstorms resulting in flooding, while others were looted and stripped of school infrastructure and technological gadgets, adding to already existing challenges of learner materials, school transport and infrastructure, in provinces like the Eastern Cape. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga and the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) General Secretary Mugwena Maluleke..

The Department of Basic Education is developing new legislation to address the high number of dropouts at South Africa's schools. South Africa's Basic Education Act currently compels parents to ensure that their kids attend schools. Those parents who fail to do so would be found guilty of an offence and can be fined or be imprisoned to a sentence not exceeding six months. However, Basic Education Department says new bill would introduce additional measures to hold principals, parents and governing bodies accountable for non-attendance. Jon Gericke spoke to spokesperson of the Department of Basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga...

The Limpopo High Court  has on Friday ruled in favour of the late Michael Komape's family to compels the provincial education department to provide a detailed list of schools with pit toilets along with plans to eradicate them. Michael drowned in a pit toilet in 2014 at the age of 5. The case has thrown a spotlight on pit toilets across the country. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Basic Department of Education spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga and first asked him about the progress the department has made in  eradicating pit toilets in the country 

The department of Basic Education has announced that matric examinations will now be written from October 27th in order to accommodate the municipal elections on the 1st of November. Matric learners were scheduled to sit for their first exam on the same date as the municipal elections. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Department of Basic Education spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga...

School ties dominate headlines around the safety for children remaining in school as SA hits third wave.  We are joined by Elijah Mhlanga, Department of Education Spokesperson on the departments call for teachers to be present for vaccination roll out this week See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alle kontaksport by Suid-Afrikaanse skole is met onmiddellike effek opgeskort. Die besluit is vandag deur die Raad van Onderwysministers tydens 'n aanlyn vergadering geneem. Die raad is van mening kontaksport-gebeurtenisse lei tot 'n spoedige toename in Covid-19-gevalle. Die Woordvoerder van Basiese Onderwys, Elijah Mhlanga, sê kuns- en kultuur-bedrywighede mag sonder toeskouers voortgaan, onderhewig aan die nakoming van Covid-19-protokolle:

The death of Grade 10 Limpopo pupil Lufuno Mavhunga after she was bullied by peers has brought the issue of bullying at schools to the forefront of the Department of Basic Education’s eyes. Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education talks about what training is in place for heads of schools and teaching bodies around issues of school bullying.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More and more teacher unions are calling for schools to close. They want schooling suspended until after the COVID-19 peak has passed. Over 1,500 pupils and teachers have contracted COVID-19 since schooling resumed. The World Health Organisation has also warned against the re-opening of schools while local transmissions of the coronavirus are on the rise.However,The Council of Education Ministers has hit back, saying only the Cabinet can decide whether schools will stay closed or not. The council said groups and individuals who are not empowered by law do not have the authority to close schools. We spoke to Allen Thomspon, President of the National Teacher's Union (NATU) and got reaction from Elijah Mhlanga, Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education.

The urgent case brought by Equal Education (EE) and two Limpopo schools to ensure that meals are provided to all nine million learners who would ordinarily benefit from the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), will be heard in the North Gauteng High Court tomorrow. Equal Education and the schools are asking the court for a declaratory order that there is a duty on government to ensure that all learners who qualify to benefit from the National School Nutrition Programme continue to receive these meals, regardless of whether their grades returned to schools….We spoke to Noncedo Madubedube- General Secretary @ Equal Education & Elijah Mhlanga, Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education.

The National Department of Basic Education says they will accommodate learners whose schools were vandalised during the more than two month lockdown to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. Basic Education spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, says 1 577 schools were vandalised.

The Department of Basic Education says it is considering a number of options to help salvage the 2020 schooling year. South Africa's schools were closed on 18th of March as part of the measures to try and stop the spread of the coronavirus before the lockdown and schools were to resume again on the 14th of April 2020. Here is the Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga and Africa Teen Geeks Founder, Lindiwe Matlali on the online reading campaign run by Africa Teen Geeks.

During an address at the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU)'s elective conference, the minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga announced that the department is looking into introducing a General Education Certificate (GCE). Motshekga says the planned introduction of the GCE forms part of the initiative to deal with the quality and efficiency through the implementation of standardized assessments. We speak to Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga and Dean of Faculty of Humanities for the Central University of Technology, Free State , Professor Nosisi Nellie Feza

The Basic Education department has dismissed reports that it intends to introduce a new life orientation curriculum that will focus on masturbation, sexual consent, gender nonconformity and single-parent families. According to reports, grade 5 pupils as young as nine years old were going to taught about masturbation when new life orientation textbooks are rolled out next year. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Basic Education department spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga

The Gauteng Education Department is considering suspending the school principal of the Mpontsheng Secondary School in Katlehong in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, following allegations that he gave an answer sheet to learners who were writing the Geography 1 exam paper recently. The alarm was raised by a concerned parents who reported the matter to exam quality body Umalusi. The Department of Basic Education says the principal has been removed as chief invigilator and that the provincial department may suspend him while the probe takes place. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the national department's Elijah Mhlanga.

The National Education Department is expected to meet with Khethimpilo, a non-governmental organisation, which has been accused of conducting HIV tests on primary school learners in Port Elizabeth. Parents of children are fuming following the HIV testing without their consent. Some parents allege some of the children tested positive and the results were given in front of the other learners. The angry parents say there was no counselling provided for the children. SABC reporter, Mcebisi Ngqina visited the community. Sakina Kanwendo spoke to an anonymous mother of a school learner that was tested from HIV without her consent and spokesperson for the department of basic education, Elijah Mhlanga

On the Forum@8 we shine a spotlight on violence against teachers. A week ago, a video showing a pupil throwing what appears to be an exercise book at a teacher in the classroom went viral. In the video the teacher walks out of the classroom. Teachers unions say incidents similar to this one are common in our schools and that teachers are being attacked by learners daily with very little being down to stop this violence. In another incident, A group of teachers is undergoing trauma counselling after being assaulted by learners at Rearabilwe Secondary School in Lehurutse in the North West. Two grade 10 learners, aged 18 and 20, assaulted five teachers after being reprimanded for disrupting teaching by playing loud music on their cellphones. The South African Council of Educators suggest that cameras be installed in schools to curb the violence and learners organisation- COSAS calls for workshops to equip both pupils and teachers on dispute management. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to President of Congress Of South African Students (COSAS), John Macheke,Spokesperson of the South African Council of Educators (SACE), Themba Ndlovu; Secretary of Governors' Alliance, Kathy Callaghan; Spokesperson for the department of basic education,Elijah Mhlanga

Recent revelations of sexual misconduct by Reiger Park's NR 2 High School, have led to fresh concerns about protecting children from sexual predators at schools. Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, has said that learners will be taught what their rights are to prevent them from becoming victims of sexual predators at schools. basic education department's spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga and Section 27's Sheniece Linderboom speak to Elvis Presslin about this issue...

Basic Education Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga and educational psychologist, and professor at Unisa's college of education Dr Ramodungoane Tabane talk to us about the latest matric results and good quality results...

South Africa has ranked last among 50 countries in the 2016 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, Pirls. This study gauges the reading standards of Grade four's and is done every five years. Professor Servaas van der Berg, National Research Chair in the Economics of Social Policy at the University of Stellenbosch and spokesperson for the Basic Education department, Elijah Mhlanga speak to Elvis Presslin about this study and the impact on our children...

Lesego Thekiso, a learner from Macauly House High School speaks on her preparations for the upcoming matric exams, while Jerry Mbowane, a maths and science tutor in Mpumalanga has helped hundreds of learners earn distinctions in those two subjects and Basic Education Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga on the arrangements for the matriculants

Basic Education department spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, Basil Manuel, spokesperson for NAPTOSA and CEO of The Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools, Paul Colditz discuss the issue of physical and sexual abuse in schools across the country...

The Johannesburg High Court has ordered that public schools should cater for the needs of learners from all religious backgrounds. The Organisation for Religious Education and Democracy (OGOD) challenged the Christian focused culture of six public schools, saying they violate the National Policy on Religion. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Basic Education Department Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga...

One of the victims of last Friday's accident in Verena in Mpumalanga, where 20 people died, is recovering at a Pretoria hospital. 15 year-old Omphile Molepo suffered a broken left arml. He says the accident occured when the taxi attempted to make a right turn towards Wolvenkop - colliding with a truck that was too close. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Education Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga about the process of regulating scholar transport...

Schools across the country re-open for the new academic year this morning. We now go to Limpopo where we speak to our reporter Rudzani Tshivhase, who is in Tshivhilwi Village, one of the areas that were badly affected by recent flash floods outside Thohoyandou. We also speak to our reporter Reginald Witbooi at the Calvinia High School in the Namaqua District in the Northern Cape, which is the best performing district in the province. In addition we also catch up with the Eastern cape through our reporter in Mthatha Fundiswa Mhlekude and our reporter in Mpumalanga, Abongile Dumako. We also touched based with Basic Education spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga...

The Department of Basic Education says reports that it would now allow junior high school pupils to pass maths if they achieved 20% in the subject are untrue. The department says there is no such thing as a 20% pass mark for mathematics and there has been no change in the progression policy. To help clear up confusion over 20% maths pass mark, we're now joined on the line by the department's spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga

The controversial Annual National Assessment (ANA) which the teacher's union SADTU has been fighting against has been cancelled. The Union says although it is pleased that the ANA will be replaced by a new systematic assessment, there are other outstanding issues that still need to be ironed out. We caught up with both the General Secretary of SADTU, Mugwena Maluleke and Basic education spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga....

The Department of Basic Education has given the assurance that this year's matric exams will be error-free and with no irregularities. The 2014 matric examinations across seven provinces were riddled with group cheating and copying. The Chief Director of Communications at the Department of Basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga joined us for more details...

Thousands of pupils are still waiting for placement at Gauteng schools. Gauteng department of education had assured learners and parents that it would resolve the problem. MEANWHILE, a month into the new school year, texbooks remain undelivered to several schools in Johannesburg, Gauteng. It is believed that teachers and principals who were expected to collect the textbooks from a storage room in Soweto, using their own cars and in their own time, have not done so. Thousands of children are affected. For more Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Elijah Mhlanga,spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education

According to a weekend newspaper, the Department of Basic Education is set to review the influence the teacher union and the School Governing Bodies have on the appointments made. This follows an investigation into jobs-for-cash which was instituted last year. The task team appointed to look into the matter will be handing over its findings to the Minister of Basic Eduction, Angie Motshekga, in two weeks time. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to the Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga.

Basic Education department is furious at the revelation of a leaked matric life sciences paper two exam paper in Limpopo province. The department says depending on the scale of the leak, either pupils at the affected school could be asked to rewrite the exam or those in the district or in the entire province. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Basic Education spoksperson, Elijah Mhlanga...

Parents, who lie about their residence in order to get their children into a particular school, could face a jail term. This is according to proposed bill by the basic education department. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Chief Director of Communications at the Department of Basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga

Yesterday the minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga met with unions in the education sector, SADTU & Naptosa this as the debate on whether to administer the Annual National Assessments (ANAs) rages on. The pupils were supposed to take the Annual Assessments this week, while the unions want them to be postponed to February next year. For more on this we are now joined on the line by the Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga and SADTU Deputy General Secretary , Nkosana Dolopi ...

Yesterday, we had the Northern Areas Education Forum on the show. They said that the Basic Education Department is not serious in addressing their concerns which include teacher shortages and payment of teachers. The Forum Spokesperson said they have resolved that as a result, schools in the northern areas of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape will not be taking part in this year's annual national assessments. To hear the response by the Department of Basic Education, Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the Acting Chief Director: Communications, Elijah Mhlanga.

Government has informed education authorities that Mandarin will be taught in schools from January. Sakina kamwendo spoke to Elijah Mhlanga at the Department of Basic Education