Message from the Conference Chairpersons 2

Newsflash

Going beyond the ABC's

If you can read this, it’s likely you’ve had the benefit of education. Literacy is only one of its gifts ... it is also the fertile soil in which leadership, values and knowledge can grow – ultimately to take root in a life that is productive, successful and fulfilled...Read more

School hurdle over, now pass the right path

We are more than halfway through the first quarter of 2012 already.

With the fanfare around the improved pass rate in the matric results now over, it is time to take stock of where the eager matriculants of 2011 find themselves now.

Adults need customised education

We have learned, especially in adult education, that unless such bodies are filled with professional, 
far-thinking, strategic people, they simply become gatekeepers who slow down processes and grow their own staff.

...Read More

Dear Friends,

Thank you for attending the Inaugural Basic Education Conference in Durban.

From the feedback we have received, it appears to have been a great success – we hope you agree.

There were over 650 delegates, 120 speakers, 100 poster presentations and 30 exhibitors. This was a remarkable gathering of people who share a commitment to improving education in South Africa. The depth of talent, innovation and passion was inspiring to us.

The challenging opening delivered by Andy Hargreaves got us thinking throughout the conference and will undoubtedly stay with you for a long time. His superb lecture, delivered to a packed auditorium, set the standard for the rest of the congress.

Our local and international speakers maintained the exceptional quality of the lectures throughout. To all our speakers, both local and international, thank you for all your time and effort. Many of the speakers have consented to their presentations being made available on the website for you to download at your leisure.

We would like to express a special thanks to Godwin Khosa and Maureen Robinson who respectively chaired the practice and research committees chaired by. Their hard work contributed immensely to the quality of the papers delivered.

Special thanks also to the Kwa Zulu Natal government for welcoming us to the province and for the level of participation at the conference, it is not often we have the Premier, the MEC and the Superintendent General of a province participate to the level they did, that was greatly appreciated.

As announced at the opening, the Foundation for Professional Development sponsored 150 delegates to the tune of R450, 000.00 – we thank them for making it possible for those that might not have been able to attend to do so.

We have all agreed to work towards collaborating in the great work that all are doing, let us think about ways and means to do that, and then do it as that will result in the changes we dream about.

We hope you enjoyed your time in Durban and we hope to see you in 2014 for the second conference.

Warm regards

Mary Metcalfe and Mpho Letlape