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The origins and meaning of Workers’ Day On the first of May, countries around the world marked International Workers’ Day. In South Africa, the day has particular resonance as it honours the contributions of trade unions, the Communist Party and labour movements in the struggle against apartheid.1 As we honour the historical achievements of workers…

Meta & Google Found Liable in Landmark Cases for Knowingly Causing Harm to Young People (8:31)1 bit.ly/MetaGoogleCases Holding social media companies to account On 25 March 2026, a jury in Los Angeles delivered a landmark verdict against Meta and Google. They declared that ‘Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, and Google, owner of YouTube,…

As we settle into the school year, it is worth taking the time to consider the particular stress and expectations that students experience. We can put in place early interventions while exams are still in the distance.  Tips for combating achievement culture (4:24)1bit.ly/TipsAchievementCulture The South African context A recent study of the pressures experienced by…

The landscape of social media is constantly evolving, especially amongst teenagers. One of the purposes of social media is to keep us all connected and it certainly gives teens the chance to broaden their horizons and explore opportunities beyond their physical or geographical circles.1 It also allows them access to opinions on current events and societal trends….

The recent M-Net documentary ‘School Ties’ has had a significant impact on viewers, raising important and difficult topics related to grooming and abuse in some of South Africa’s schools. In this newsletter, we aim to unpack these issues to raise awareness. The documentary involved working sensitively with families who agreed to share their experiences. Tragically,…

Wimbledon nearly cost me my university exemption. Throughout my educational career, my mid-year exams seemed to coincide with an international sporting event, usually tennis. The students of 2024 will have the Paris Olympics to contend with. Instead of looking at the Games as a distraction, we thought they could serve as inspiration in your classroom….

Every year, on 2 June, we observe World Eating Disorder Action Day, an initiative driven by individuals impacted by eating disorders, their families and the medical and health professionals supporting them. The day aims to increase global awareness of these disorders, spread accurate information, eradicate myths, and advocate for resources and policy change. The theme…

Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024 (#MHDay2024) takes place on 28 May. 2024 marks the 10th celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day with the theme: Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld. The purpose of the day, much like other global awareness days, is to raise awareness and initiate conversation to effect long-term change at global, national and local levels. Even though half of the world’s…

We were inspired by the 2024 CAT to dedicate our first newsletter of the year to the topic of advertising. Advertising sparks excitement and engagement in scholars of all grades and provides a rich opportunity for teaching critical thinking skills; it is also such a fun aspect of the curriculum to explore. Defining advertising Advertising is…

The International Day of Happiness takes place each year on the 20th of March. Philosophers dating back to Aristotle’s time have tried to understand what makes people happy and have come up with many theories. The first World Happiness Report was published in 2012 and the first International Day of Happiness was celebrated in 2013….