Between August and October Shikaya partnered with the Development Bank of Southern Africa, The Field Education and the Mail and Guardian to host Education Conversations – a series of four talks on education that took  place around South Africa. Education Conversations aimed to engage South Africans in a dialogue about the state of education and the solutions around to improve teaching and schools,using the Education Roadmap and the 10-Point Plan along with expert perspectives to engage South Africans in constructive, engaging and solution-driven conversations about the issues facing education today. Speakers included MEC’s Grant and Creecy, Professor Jansen, Dr Badat and Dr Mamphela Ramphele.

The initiative was a resounding success and exceeded all expectations. The four talks were attended by over 900 people and received extensive media coverage. The success of the talks underscored the fact that South African’s are passionate about improving education for everyone and are ready for change. The topics covered were:

BUILDING OUR DEMOCRACY – “How do we prepare young people in schools and universities to be active and caring citizens?” (Free State University) Rector Professor Jonathan Jansen and Graeme Bloch

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION -”What can each of us do to turn our schools into centres of excellence?” (University of the Western Cape) MEC for Education Donald Grant, Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, Professor Brian O’Connel and Graeme Bloch iii)

LEADERSHIP IN SCHOOLS – “How can we encourage great leadership to emerge in schools?” (University of Johannesburg) MEC for Education Barbara Creecy, Ms Matshiliso Dipholo (SADTU Vice President), Dr Mduduzi Mathe (Principal, Bukhulani High School, Soweto), Ravi Naidoo, Nolulamo Gwagwa

FIXING SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS – “What can we all do to ensure that our schools deliver the best possible education and opportunities to our children?” (Rhodes University) Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat and Graeme Bloch

To download podcasts of the talks visit www.educationconversations.org

Peter Harris was the lawyer for the Delmas Four, a group of ANC foot-soldiers trained as an assassination unit, who were captured after re-infiltrating the country of their birth in the 1980s. In a Different Time recounts these times in a gripping and revealing way and highlights the role that individuals play in shaping the future of a country and the choices they are confronted with in resisting oppression.