Brian Isaacs obtained a BSc (UWC) in 1975, a Secondary Teacher’s Diploma in 1976, BEd (UWC) in 1981, and MEd (UWC) in 1992. He is a former matriculant, teacher and principal at South Peninsula High School in Cape Town, South Africa.
COLUMN: I suggest that individual schools take the initiative and make every effort to achieve the best results they can. However, I believe that the only way to truly transform the system is for schools and the government to work together to bring about these changes. Unfortunately, the current situation in schools makes this approach difficult.
COLUMN: Since 1994, significant strides have been made in South African education, and the governing political party deserves credit for these improvements. The establishment of a unified Education Department marked a pivotal step forward, as did the introduction of compulsory education up to Grade 7 or the age of 15.
COLUMN: Brian Isaacs writes that whenever one reads about natural disasters and disasters caused by human bad planning and wars, one is amazed by the efforts of people affected to cope with the education of young people.
COLUMN: Brian Isaacs writes that he believes that in order to understand the present crisis in education, we must understand the mistakes made in South Africa in the past.
COLUMN: Brian Isaacs writes that he believes politics and education are intertwined, and says that he has often engaged in debates with politicians and education officials on this matter.
COLUMN: Brian Isaacs writes that people who decide to go into teaching must realise that they have the future of young people in their hands.
COLUMN: Brian Isaacs writes that unless the government is prepared to drastically increase funding to poor schools, the majority of schools in South Africa will continue to struggle.
COLUMN: It was as though children who were extroverts were the examples we should follow. In the Western world, it would seem that the ideal is extroversion. This is what Western society considers to be what we should aim for.
COLUMN: Teachers belonging to the Teachers’ League of South Africa and Cape African Teachers’ Association during the apartheid years were summarily dismissed or banned. Under the post-1994 government, teachers who criticise the policies of the present system find themselves up against an authoritarian educational government system.
COLUMN: The taxi industry in South Africa has a lengthy history, much like it does in the rest of the world. Many pupils in the country rely on taxis to commute to and from school.
COLUMN: In 1996, I became aware of the Global Classroom Partnership (GCP). It was started by two icons in global education: Stewart Hay (deputy principal of Anderson High in Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland – a school known for its high academic standards and interest in global education) and Lionel Adriaan (former principal of Harold Cressy 1997 – also a highly regarded school in Cape Town) in 1996.
COLUMN: An honorary doctorate was awarded to Veronica Williams posthumously by UCT on July 21 and on Saturday a celebration of her life was held at the Baxter Theatre.
COLUMN: hat is there to learn from him to in-service tracers? Imam was selfless in his quest for justice and education for all. In his recent book, The Oldest Profession, he identified education as the oldest profession and very important in the fight for freedom and justice.
COLUMN: I encourage our schools to get teachers, parents and pupils to contributions to the issues in our newspapers. School communities seem to be scared to make their views known in the media. One of the biggest threats to freedom of speech is the education departments. They use labour relations departments across the country to suppress freedom of thought.
COLUMN: There is no doubt in my mind that education plays an important role in society, but there are numerous challenges facing education in our schools world-wide.
OPINION: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a term that seems to be on everyone’s lips these days. What is it? Does anyone know what it is? I remember as a teacher going to class to learn computer literacy on Commodore computers in 1980 through the education department.
Today we remember all the people who sacrificed their lives, especially on June 16, 1976, so that the present generation of students can have a better education, writes Brian Isaacs.
COLUMN: Many stalwarts of the South African Council on Sport established in the Struggle years against apartheid have come to the fore to tell of their memorable fight against apartheid.
COLUMN: The phrase “memory is the weapon” is such a powerful one, coined by the South African writer Don Mattera, that it sits consciously in my mind when I think about education in the world, particularly in South Africa.
COLUMN: The selection of principals is a serious matter that should be carefully monitored by the education department and governing bodies.
COLUMN: Brian Isaacs writes that separate education departments for each of our provinces does little to advance the cause of improving education for all.
COLUMN: I have never come across a situation where the government and business voluntarily raise the wages of workers. It always comes when labour threatens to strike. We all want the best for the people of South Africa. It is time that the government and business learn to share with the workers of South Africa.
COLUMN: I always found it amazing to read the biographies of people from around the world and how they have influenced the lives of others.
COLUMN: The demand for places at our 26 universities is very high. We need more facilities to cope with the demand for places at universities. The time has come for all our universities to work together with the government to plan the way forward on how to accommodate students at our universities.
Violence has no place in education. It is with sadness that I read about the recent killing of a very young pupil at one of our schools in South Africa. My thoughts and sympathies go out to the school community that has experienced this tragic event. My sympathies also go out to the family of the pupil who lost his life.
