Edwin Naidu

Freelance Journalist, Sunday Independent

Education system in urgent need of leaders with integrity

Edwin Naidu|Published

The story of South African education in 2024 is one of controversy and crisis, dominated by the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act and overshadowed by persistent ...

South African research funds ‘at risk’ of losing funding over Gaza stance

Edwin Naidu|Published

Naledi Pandor, the country’s former International Relations Minister who also previously served as Minister of Science Technology, said several universities could ...

Make teachers the heartbeat of efforts to transform education

Edwin Naidu|Published

While not a panacea for the system’s challenges, the BELA Bill is a step towards improving education quality through learning and teaching, but it needs a committed ...

Make teachers the heartbeat of efforts to transform education

Edwin Naidu|Published

I Can Academy in Parkwood, Cape Town, where children listen to their dedicated teacher, Alletta Frans, as she reads to them during a lesson. While not a panacea ...

ICASA’s ‘indecent haste’ to shut down pay TV channel

Edwin Naidu|Published

StarSat’s closure will leave only one operator in the satellite TV space and 500000 subscribers high and dry

Does the Natal Indian Congress have a role in the future South Africa we want and deserve?

Edwin Naidu|Published

There is no doubt of the impact of the NIC on the country’s politics – and history – especially its role in forming the United Democratic Front in 1983, which mobilised ...

Does the Natal Indian Congress have a role in the future South Africa we want and deserve?

Edwin Naidu|Published

ANC Veterans, from left, Kgalema Motlanthe, Sbu Ndebele and Mac Maharaj at the celebration of 130 years of the Natal Indian Congress. There is no doubt of the impact ...

Oh Bela! Children suffer as Gwarube puts her party before the people

Edwin Naidu|Published

All ministers, united under the banner of the Government of National Unity, have pledged to serve all the people of South Africa, giving a strong sense of reassurance ...

Oh Bela! Children suffer as Gwarube puts her party before the people

Edwin Naidu|Published

Minister Siviwe Gwarube, like a petulant child, boycotted the family function to sign the BELA bill that will give children better education opportunities hosted ...

A more structured lens needed to evaluate VCs ‘runaway train’ salaries

Edwin Naidu|Published

By Edwin NaiduThirty years of democracy has not dimmed the recurring narrative over exorbitant vice-chancellors’ salaries. The ongoing issue over high salaries should ...

A more structured lens needed to evaluate VCs ‘runaway train’ salaries

Edwin Naidu|Published

University of Johannesburg’s former vice-chancellor and principal, Professor Ihron Rensburg – who has overseen an amalgamation of three institutions, then passed ...

Firing NSFAS board is papering over the cracks

Edwin Naidu|Published

National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) CEO Andile Nongogo was fired in October 2023 amid a R47-billion payments scandal, yet no action has yet been taken ...

Long road ahead for higher education transformation

Edwin Naidu|Published

The University of Cape Town honours students at a summer graduation ceremony outside Sarah Baartman Hall on its upper campus. While there has been much progress ...

Funding for vital research increased

Edwin Naidu|Published

The gross domestic expenditure on research and development (Gerd) in South Africa has gone up in real terms for the first time in four years, driven strongly by ...

Budget 2024: Is it time to measure the return on investment in education?

Edwin Naidu|Published

OPINION: Anecdotal evidence shows that billions are spent on education with little good to show for it, writes Edwin Naidu.

What happens to learners when they are left in the lurch by the organisation meant to help them?

Edwin Naidu|Published

Picture: Supplied / ANA – Scores of students are being denied the opportunity to work in the sector dealing with long-term insurance, short-term insurance, life ...

The country’s leaders need to set an example

Edwin Naidu|Published

Picture: Picture: Oupa Mokoena / African News Agency (ANA) / Taken September 19, 2023 – Buti Manamela, the deputy minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation ...

Removal of Phakeng undermines tertiary sector transformation gains

Edwin Naidu|Published

Picture: Tracey Adams/African News Agency (ANA) – UCT’s former vice-chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng. Is Phakeng the (Professor William Malegapuru) Makgoba ...

Youth hailed as the architects of new Africa – but will they get a chance to lead?

Edwin Naidu|Published

Picture: Rusana Philander/African News Agency (ANA) Files – Romano Louw, 18, from Mitchells Plain, speaks at the Nelson Mandela Youth Dialogue about violence in ...

Africa eyes the economic advantages of SDGs but progresses slowly towards goals

Edwin Naidu|Published

Picture: ANA File – Statistics currently reveal that half of the countries have no data on learning levels or the percentage of trained teachers in primary schools, ...

Quality education in Africa: EU launches €100 million Regional Teachers’ Initiative – will it work?

Edwin Naidu|Published

Picture: Timothy Bernard African News Agency (ANA) – A class teacher shares a group hug with her class as she welcomes them for 2023. Africa will need 15 million ...

President celebrates, but the three-stream model has yet to work

Edwin Naidu|Published

Picture: ANA file – The South Cape TVET College. The three-stream model, which refers to three pathways – academic, technical vocational and technical occupational ...

Embattled UCT head refuses exit package

Edwin Naidu|Published

Council offers to drop charges with ‘sweetheart’ deal.

Black History Month: When the stories of true heroes are taught at schools, celebrations can start

Edwin Naidu|Published

Picture: Jacques Naude/African News Agency (ANA) – Dr Yaa Ashante Waa Archer Ngidi from the Institute of Afrikology speaking at the 1st annual Black History Month ...

Teachers throughout Africa earn their Spurs on peanuts

Edwin Naidu|Published

Picture: Bruce Mackay/Supplied – One of the biggest public sector demonstrations for decades in London, UK, on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. In the UK, members of ...