Education Conversations | Leading Justice for the Education of Africa’s Children
Kagiso Trust, in partnership with the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Education, recently hosted a powerful edition of Education Conversations, bringing together key voices from across the education sector to reflect on the theme: “Leading Justice for the Education of Africa’s Children.”
Recognising the long-standing impact of historical injustices, the webinar explored how educational justice can be a catalyst for empowerment and change across the continent.
The webinar was guided by five critical principles:
- The Right to Education: Affirming every child’s right to quality learning, as protected by the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
- Beyond Access: Examining justice not only in access but also in equity, quality, and inclusion.
- The Role of Education: Highlighting education’s role in shaping development, fostering democracy, and securing lifelong wellbeing.
- African Realities: Confronting persistent barriers such as poverty, inequality, displacement, and conflict.
- Justice in Action: Calling for bold, systemic policy responses to address the root causes of educational injustice.
We encourage educators, policy-makers, students, and civil society leaders to engage with the content and continue the conversation around achieving justice in education for every child on the African continent.
For those who could not attend or who would like to revisit the insights shared, you can access the webinar recording and download the presentation below:
Speakers
Dr Agumba (UJ)
Dr. Hellen Agumba, a lecturer in the Department of Education and Curriculum Studies at the University of Johannesburg, holds a PhD and Master’s in Education and Curriculum Studies. Her research centres on social justice and epistemic equity in higher education, particularly focusing on the experiences of marginalised students from rural backgrounds. She explores themes such as access and success in higher education, teacher development, commerce education, and curriculum studies, using qualitative and ethnographic methods. Dr. Agumba has contributed to national and international projects like the TAU Programme and SARIHE, with support from ESRC, NRF, and DHET. Her decolonial approach to research aims to transform educational practices and foster epistemic justice. In 2024, she was awarded the Vice Chancellor's Distinguished Award for Most Promising Young Teacher of the Year by UJ, reflecting her commitment to making academic spaces more inclusive and responsive to diverse knowledge systems.
Topic: Decolonizing African Education
Download the presentation here.
Prof Neluvhalani-Caquece (UFS)
Dr Vhonani Sarah-Jane, Neluvhalani-Caquece, is Senior Lecture at the Mercantile Law Department, Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State, South Africa. Her doctoral thesis considered the right to nationality for stateless children in South Africa using a decolonised lens of ubuntu. She teaches the Law of the Internet and Commercial Law and is a recipient of the NRF Thuthuka Post-PhD funding Award for the periods 2024-2026. Her recent book chapter contribution in Chayya, S. Rakubu, M. Neluvhalani-Caquece, V. & Tladi, S. (2024). A Legal Perspective on Exposing Women’s Intimate Images Online ‘Revenge Porn’ to Score Political Points. in Mpofu, S. & Aiseng, K (Eds.), Social Media and Gender in Africa: Discourses on Power and Politics of Everyday Life. Lexington Books. pp: 151-172.
Topic: Statelessness & the right to Education: Legal interventions for children in SA.
Download the presentation here.
Sindisa Monakali
Sindisa Monakali is a research assistant for the Politics and Urban Governance Research Group, and he focuses on sanitation in Cape Town informal settlement. He is also an activist scholar who believes in education for liberation, and the national chairperson of Equal Education. Currently, he is pursuing his master’s degree at the University of the Western Cape. Lastly, Sindisa is also a fellow for the Mellon Foundation MDP program and Canon Collins Sol Plaatjie scholarship alumni. His research interests continue to be rooted in land, violence, memory, dispossession, social movements, occupation, and decolonisation.
Topic: Leading Justice for the Education of Africa’s Children
Download the presentation here.
Maretha Spies – Teacher:
Maretha Spies is a dedicated high school educator at Port Shepstone High School. She obtained her Bachelor of Education from the University of Johannesburg. As a firm believer in the philosophy that education should inspire personal growth, Maretha embraces the role of a teacher as both a mentor and a motivator. She recognises that a purpose-driven life begins in the classroom, where students explore their strengths, develop critical thinking, and nurture a vision for their future. She is also an advocate for social justice and uses her classroom as a platform to promote diversity and inclusivity.
To join the conversation on our social media pages:
Official Hashtag: #EducationConversations
Official Accounts:
Facebook: Kagiso Trust; University of Johannesburg
Twitter: @Kagiso_Trust; @EduFacultyUJ; @YassimKat
