Funda Ujabule leads way in foundation phase of primary education
The public school, founded by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Education in 2010, is pioneering new teaching methods combining technology, research and innovation to drive excellence.
The UN Educational Scientific and Cultural (Unesco) has included Funda Ujabule's teaching model in its network of associated schools across the world.
The teacher education process is a collaboration between academia and practice and includes UJ's Bachelor of Education students, who do practicals at the school.
Dr Fikile Simelane of UJ's department of childhood education said when children start their literacy trajectory it must be in their mother tongue.
'When you look at oral language development, the components of language development is what we call phonology, vocabulary, morphology and syntax.
'They [children] come from home with those components. So, the language they bring for learning is a very strong source they bring into the classroom.'
Simelane believes that children can better understand teaching concepts in their mother tongue before they can be translated to English.
'Teaching must be brought to their reality [in their] mother tongue. We start conceptualising and comprehension in our languages; it is called inference. We infer and bring in our background knowledge using our language.
'Reading at Funda is in a hierarchy form starting with oral language development in grade R, where the home language of a child is fully developed.
'Once the child is developed, they then move to alphabetic principle, which is about phonics, understanding the sound of your language.'
Simelane said language was a strong tool for comprehension and that vocabulary served as a bridge for word recognition.
'It goes back to the teacher, teaching the children the vocabulary, the terminology of concepts within the classroom itself so that they are able to use that in their daily conversation.'
The school's departmental head, Refilwe Ntsoane, said: 'We are committed to improving our children's literacy, from the foundation phase they are rooted in their mother tongue, which helps with comprehension.
'In grade 1 we are using the sandbox programme. It is a programme meant to improve literacy in schools. Teachers are taken through training on how to help children with creative writing.'
Ntsoane said parents who were not honest about the languages they spoke at home presented a challenge for teachers because this affected the children's comprehension of language and vocabulary.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mail & Guardian
8 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Empowering youth through skills and community service.
Over 80 000 young people across South Africa have been engaged in paid community service as part of an active citizenship plea that equally boosts employability and provides sustainable income ventures. The National Youth Service (NYS) programme serves as a launchpad for economic participation, especially for youth in under-resourced communities. It bridges the gap between learning and earning by transforming public service into a developmental opportunity The programme serves as an avenue to boost future employability for young people in both urban and rural communities. The NYS contributes to reducing youth unemployment while fostering a generation of capable, committed young South Africans. At its core, NYS promotes active citizenship and social cohesion. It further opens doors for young people to gain technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial skills through structured service programmes. Over the years, the NYS has consistently proven that when young people are given the opportunity to serve; they grow, transform, and lead with enthusiasm. As South Africa battles youth unemployment and socio-economic challenges, the NYS has emerged as a key initiative that empowers young people with skills, purpose, and opportunities to serve their communities while preparing for the world of work. The NYS participant mapping model powerfully illustrates the programme's broad national reach and dedication to inclusivity of all communities. Each point on the map marks a community or area where NYS operates. The map covers all nine provinces, from bustling urban centres to isolated rural villages. What is especially noteworthy is the extensive geographic spread, which highlights that the NYS programme extends far beyond urban hubs. The programme actively reaches into historically marginalised and underserved regions, those are defined as 'job deserts' where opportunities have long been limited. In essence, the map tells a story of intentional inclusion, which is one where NYS actively bridges spatial inequality. It takes opportunities directly to where young people are. The programme employs a proactive, rather than a reactive approach. The combination of a wide programme footprint and targeted roadshows ensure that no young person is left behind, regardless of where they live. This national reach is not coincidental, as it reflects deliberate targeting and outreach efforts. In particular, the NYS Roadshows played a critical role in amplifying this reach. These roadshows were conducted in underserved provinces and districts, especially in areas with historically low youth participation in national programmes. Through these engagements, NYDA was able to raise awareness, share information, and directly support youth with on-site application support. The roadshows also allowed NYS teams to partner with local stakeholders, which include municipalities, schools, community organisations, and traditional leaders. This is to ensure the programme is embedded in local development agendas at a level that is relevant for young people. As a result, we have seen a marked increase in applications and participation from areas that previously had little or no engagement with NYS. A powerful testament to the impact of the National Youth Service is the story of 23-year-old Rachel Lebohang Mofokeng from Zone 16, Sebokeng. 'Two years ago, I had only a basic computer certificate and no job. My grandmother's income had to support five of us, and most mornings I woke up with no money and nothing to do,' she recalls. That changed when Rachel joined the NYS 'Youth Life' programme. The monthly stipend helped cover essentials such as food, school transport, and her toiletries, which contributed to easing the financial burden at home. 'I discovered I loved fixing tech and that being a woman in the field made me stand out,' said Rachel. Today, Rachel runs her small workshop, earning between R15 000 and R20 000 a month from loyal, repeat customers who trust her skills. Her journey from being an unemployed young person, to an in-demand technician shows how the NYS programme transforms the challenges posed by unemployment into purpose, income, and a promising future. Moreover, the NPO Capacity Building Programme is a flagship component of the National Youth Service (NYS) model, aimed at strengthening the ecosystem of youth-led and youth-serving Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) in South Africa. The programme supports NPOs with the training, funding, tools, and mentorship they need to deliver high-quality service projects that tackle local challenges such as education support, health outreach, agriculture, community safety, and youth employability. 'A truly progressive initiative that brings together aligned NPOs and like-minded visionaries and propels them forward.' – wrote The Kuhlase Disability Centre, participant in the NYS Capacity Building Programme. South Africa continues to face major barriers in regard to inclusion, especially when it comes to young persons with disabilities. Access to education, training, employment, and skills development opportunities is essential for economic participation. The NYS Capacity Building Programme empowers youth-led and youth-serving NPOs to create accessible, structured, and impactful service opportunities for local youth, including young persons with disabilities.
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Daily Maverick
Meet the 31-year-old Sowetan who compiled Joburg's first digital heritage register
Johannesburg's first digital heritage register documents 90 sites, many of them unknown to the public. A dictionary and a 'useless' university degree turned a Soweto youth into a Joburg heritage expert. At 31, Kopano Monaheng has been a key player in the compilation of Joburg's first digital heritage register, launched on 25 July 2025 — a public tool that brings together decades of forgotten, buried and often deliberately erased history. Born and raised in Phiri and Meadowlands, Monaheng has been responsible for the identification, research, upgrading and restoration of several city heritage sites, and has also named 350 new streets in two informal settlements. His journey began with loss. His mother died when he was two. His father, who instilled in him a love of language through the family's only book, a dictionary, passed away when Monaheng was seven. His grandmother, a seamstress, raised him. 'I was just a boy in Phiri with nothing but curiosity,' he says. That curiosity led him to the local library, his sanctuary from Soweto's chaos. 'The environment in Soweto is always busy and noisy and I would escape to the library where I read everything I could. But it was that dictionary that started my love of words.' After being rejected twice by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Monaheng was accepted into the University of Johannesburg. He studied geography and anthropology, fields that many close to him dismissed at the time as giving him a 'useless' degree. 'Even I started to believe them,' he admits. After a long period of frustration because of unemployment, Monaheng managed to secure free training in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which led to an internship with the City of Johannesburg's arts, culture and heritage department. It was Eric Itzkin, the deputy director of immovable heritage, who immediately recognised his potential. 'There was no one else in the department who understood geography and locations the way I did. I applied for this job as I had equal interest in history, geography and anthropology. The three come together when it comes to planning and implementing heritage solutions. I really believe we have to maintain our history for everyone to understand where we come from,' said Monaheng. One of his interventions was advocating for the inclusion of the Eyethu Cinema in Mofolo, Soweto, once the only cinema for black audiences, in the heritage register. The cinema, opened in 1969, had decayed since its closure in the 1990s. Today, it has been reborn as the Eyethu Heritage Hall, a public cultural space. 'I used to see this old place and wonder about its history, so I started researching it and motivating for its inclusion into the register,' he said. He also helped document the St Xavier Catholic Church in Sophiatown, one of the only buildings to survive the forced removals under the Group Areas Act. 'It has a fascinating history and is still a very active Catholic church,' he said. The Kwa Mai Mai Market, a historically rich but under-appreciated space in the Joburg CBD, is close to his heart. Monaheng fought for its inclusion on the register. 'People and tourists tend to go there only for traditional food, but there is more to it. It is home to traditional medicine and healers, with a mixed informal economy, offering muti and herbal remedies, Zulu cultural artefacts, traditional dress and crafts, woodwork, and more, all sold and practiced by cultural entrepreneurs and traditional healers. So I'm hoping to expand tourism there,' he said. Another of his milestones was the Dr AB Xuma House in Sophiatown. Monaheng's research enabled its transformation into a museum, and he personally authored its blue heritage plaque. Names, memory and identity His expertise includes naming and renaming streets, which is often a controversial topic. In the informal settlement of Mnandini, Lawley, he helped to create 200 new street names and addresses through public consultation. In Tshepisong (near Roodepoort), he similarly facilitated the naming of 150 new street addresses. 'In both cases, the community was allowed to choose the new names. Some were African themed and others were named after local grasses and grasslands, given the proximity to wetlands.' He was also involved in the renaming of De Beer Street in Braamfontein to Mthokozisi Ntumba Street, honouring the student killed by the police during the 2021 #FeesMustFall protests. 'People always complain about wasting money, so I did walkabouts and garnered support. It will soon go through council for approval. I worked with Wits, local residents and businesses in the process. There was no cost, just community engagement,' he said. More controversial was the proposed renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive. 'We intended this to create unity, but politics got in the way. The public participation process got over 70,000 approvals compared to 30,000 objections, but this remains stalled due to political backlash.' Now, Monaheng, whose internship with the City has ended, is working with a private heritage conservation firm. He is hoping to develop heritage tourism routes — paths that aim to connect place, memory and identity. 'Our past lives are in the places around us. If we name them and mark them, we give them life again. Watch this space,' he smiled. Preserving Joburg's heritage Itzkin, who guided the development of the online heritage register, believes this is a crucial step toward democratising memory. 'Kopano identified and ran with projects for the new online heritage register, which brings a wealth of information on heritage buildings and sites spread across Joburg.' The register currently documents 90 sites, many of them unknown to the public. 'Joburg transformed from a mining camp to a metropolis in just a few generations,' said Itzkin. 'Despite its short recorded history, it is rich in drama, architectural evolution and political struggle.' Among the earliest stories in the register are pre-colonial Tswana communities, whose relics can still be found from Klipriviersburg to Melville Koppies, predating the gold rush of 1886. But too often, Joburg has chosen to erase rather than preserve. 'Many buildings, even relatively recent ones, have been demolished in the name of development. We've seen a city constantly rebuilt, often at the cost of its history. 'Heritage preservation in Joburg isn't just about old buildings,' Itzkin said. 'It's about memory and justice. The online register maps the journeys of figures like Nelson Mandela and MK Gandhi — and that of ordinary people, too.' 'They must be preserved for future generations and managed in line with best international practice and legal compliance.' The register was developed by the City's arts and culture team, in collaboration with historians and tour guides. It also provides the heritage status and protection levels for buildings that are more than 60 years old. 'Each site holds a unique story,' said Itzkin. 'And this register will keep growing to include more across the city. 'Joburg may be young by global standards, but its history is deep and dynamic. Much of the city's unique legacy is at risk of being lost, not to time, but to neglect.'
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
Art museum hall temporarily closed for repairs
News Premium By Faith Mtwana - 04 August 2025 The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum has temporarily closed the Arts Hall building due to extensive repairs to the electrical system. Henry Newman, chair of the Friends of the Art Museum, an organisation aimed at raising funds to assist the museum, said the building had fallen into disrepair, highlighting the infrastructural damage that it suffered over the years...
