Latest news with #CAPS
IOL News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
South Africa's schools embrace road safety education for a safer future
Road safety education is now integrated into the newly launched Life Skills textbooks for Grades 4–6 and Life Orientation textbooks for Grades 7–12. This initiative, led by the Department of Basic Education and funded by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and other partners, aims to enhance public safety among South Africa's youth. Image: Supplied In a significant stride for public safety and education, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has announced the integration of road safety education into South African schools. The project has been a collaborative effort, led by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in partnership with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and funding partner RTMC, among others. Road safety will become a formal part of the national curriculum with this landmark development. This monumental step was celebrated on June 13, 2025, with the launch of new Life Skills textbooks for Grades 4–6 and Life Orientation textbooks for Grades 7–12 by the DBE. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said this milestone represents a game changer in the national effort to reduce road fatalities and promote responsible road use among future generations. 'By embedding road safety education into the curriculum, South Africa takes a significant step toward institutionalising life-saving knowledge and cultivating a culture of road safety from a young age,' he said. In 2017, the RTMC began its mission to integrate structured and effective road safety education into schools, acknowledging the critical necessity for such content. Zwane noted that while the RTMC does not specialise in education, its expertise in road safety has shaped the development of relevant content aligned with the National Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). Through this initiative, RTMC said pupils from Grades 4 to 12 will gain essential knowledge, values, and skills that not only enhance their safety but also empower them to influence their families and communities. Teacher training and content contextualisation have also been prioritised to ensure the material is engaging and relevant to diverse learner groups. RTMC CEO, Advocate Makhosini Msibi, said this inclusion ensures that road safety education is not treated as a once-off campaign but becomes part of the national consciousness, embedded in the values and knowledge of every pupil. 'We are extremely proud to see road safety formally introduced into classrooms across the country,' said Msibi. The RTMC said it is committed to supporting the rollout, teacher training, and long-term sustainability of this vital intervention. 'We believe that road safety education at the school level lays the foundation for a safer, more responsible road-using public — ultimately saving lives.' During the launch of the textbook series, consisting of 21 books and teacher guides, the department said other funding partners include the Road Accident Fund, South African Human Rights Commission, South African Sugar Association, Railway Safety Regulator, UNICEF, Eskom, Nestlé, and Momentum Metropolitan Holdings. Road safety education is now integrated into the newly launched Life Skills textbooks for Grades 4–6 and Life Orientation textbooks for Grades 7–12. Image: Supplied Dr Patricia Watson, chief director for social inclusion and partnerships at the DBE, said these textbooks are more than just learning materials; 'they are roadmaps to self-discovery and empowerment'. Deputy Education Minister Reginah Mhaule said the textbook series empowers pupils to connect with their futures and make a positive difference in their own lives and society. 'It helps children and adolescents make informed choices about health, nutrition, safety, mental well-being, sexuality, physical fitness, and technology. 'These textbooks also guide them in managing their emotions, maintaining healthy relationships, and understanding their civic responsibilities under South Africa's laws and Constitution,' said Mhaule.
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Indian Express
Need to extend surveillance envelope, says deputy air chief
Operation Sindoor has thrown up the lesson that modern warfare has fundamentally altered the relationship between distance and vulnerability, thanks to technology, a top military officer said Wednesday, while also highlighting critical importance of deep surveillance in contemporary warfare. Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said the existing principles of war are being challenged and new ones are emerging. 'Earlier, the horizon marked the limit of immediate threat. Today, precision-guided munitions like SCALP, BrahMos and HAMMER have rendered geographical barriers almost meaningless, as strikes with BVR AAMs (beyond visual range air to air missiles) and supersonic AGMs have become commonplace,' he said at a seminar hosted by think-tank CAPS (Centre for Air Power Studies) and Indian Military Reviews (IMR). He said when weapons can strike targets hundreds of kilometres away with pinpoint accuracy, the traditional concepts of front, rear and flanks, combat zones and depth areas all become irrelevant. 'What we call the front and the theatre, merge into one. This new reality demands that we extend our surveillance envelope far beyond what previous generations could have even imagined,' he said, adding that we must detect, identify and track potential threats not when they approach our borders, but when they are still in their staging areas, airfields and bases, deep within adversary territory. 'This existed as a concept even earlier but today we have the means to realise it,' he said. 'When hypersonic missiles can traverse hundreds of kilometres in minutes and drone swarms can reach their targets before traditional decision-making processes can respond, real-time or near-real-time surveillance becomes… essential for survival.'
The Print
11-06-2025
- The Print
CISC Air Marshal Dixit sums up Op Sindoor lessons—traditional battlefield ideas ‘irrelevant'
Speaking at a seminar on surveillance and electro-optics, jointly organised by the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) and Indian Military Review (IMR) in the national capital, he emphasised that modern surveillance capabilities must now allow the military to detect, track and identify threats while they are still in staging areas, airfields or bases deep within adversary territory. 'When weapons can strike targets hundreds of kilometres away with pinpoint accuracy, the classical ideas of front, rear, and flanks become irrelevant. The front of the theatre merges into one,' he said. 'This new reality demands that we extend our surveillance envelope far beyond what previous generations could have imagined.' New Delhi: Traditional battlefield concepts such as frontlines, depth areas, and rear zones are no longer relevant in an era defined by long-range precision strikes and real-time surveillance, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said Wednesday. 'This existed as a concept earlier, but today we have the means to realise it,' he said. Speaking on the achievements of Operation Sindoor, he said, 'The operation had clearly demonstrated that indigenous innovation, when properly harnessed, can match and even exceed international benchmarks.' He added that at the core of the success was IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), which was also synced and integrated with the Army's Akashteer system, providing a joint and integrated approach to the air defence of the nation. 'In modern warfare, information without the ability to act upon it rapidly is of limited value. IACCS compressed our sensor-to-shooter timelines dramatically, enabling responses that outpaced adversary decision cycles,' said Air Marshal Dixit. 'The result was clear—not a single Pakistani aircraft breached our airspace, while our precision strikes successfully degraded their AD capabilities and aerial infrastructure. This success was not accidental but the result of years of indigenous development, rigorous testing and continuous refinement and demonstrated the importance of self-reliance in national security.' On the lessons from the conflict early last month, Air Marshal Dixit emphasised that the operation reaffirmed the centrality of surveillance in modern conflict. 'Operation Sindoor demonstrated how modern warfare has fundamentally altered the relationship between distance and vulnerability. Precision-guided munitions like SCALP, BrahMos and HAMMER, as well as beyond visual range air-to-air and supersonic ground-attack missiles, have rendered geographical barriers nearly meaningless.' He added, 'When hypersonic missiles travel hundreds of kilometres in minutes, and drone swarms reach targets before decisions can be made, real-time or near-real-time surveillance becomes not just helpful, but critical for survival.' Drawing parallels from recent global conflicts, including between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Hamas, Air Marshal Dixit noted that superior situational awareness has consistently tipped the balance in favour of the side with better eyes on the battlefield. He further underlined the emerging role of space-based assets and emerging technologies in enhancing India's surveillance architecture. He further highlighted the foresight of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) in enabling private sector participation, especially through the transfer of Optical Imaging System technology. 'This has already resulted in compact, long-range surveillance platforms that increase operational flexibility. I urge companies to see themselves not just as vendors, but as partners in national security,' he said. Looking at the future, he added that India's existing MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) and HALE (High Altitude Long Endurance) platforms, and MQ-9, Rustom and TAPAS unmanned aerial vehicles, must evolve with modular payloads, advanced sensor fusion and artificial intelligence-assisted analysis to provide battlefield commanders with timely, actionable intelligence. Lt Gen Vineet Gaur, director general (capability development), who was also present at the event highlighted that, of the 52 spy satellites that India is expected to launch in the coming years, 31 will be built by private sector firms. 'This marks a shift in our approach to defence modernisation, one that is faster, more agile and more collaborative with the private industry,' he said. 'These satellites will be equipped with cutting-edge camera lenses, advanced sensors and a suite of modern technologies to enhance India's situational awareness and defence preparedness.' He also emphasised the prioritisation of underwater surveillance, especially in light of Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). 'Our electro-optical platforms must be all-weather and all-domain. Cyber resilience and a common data language are also key for interoperability.' Air Vice Marshal Tejpal Singh, assistant chief of air staff (plans), who was also part of the panel, emphasised the critical role of advanced surveillance and technology in modern warfare. He further noted that enhanced battlefield imagery and robust monitoring systems have become essential to operational effectiveness. 'We need to integrate our surveillance systems in the same way our air defence systems are integrated. Only then can we achieve true synergy and interoperability,' he said. (Edited by Sanya Mathur) Also Read: Defence ministry plans own Raisina Dialogue-style conference—Ran Samvad, likely to be held in August
Eyewitness News
10-06-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Incorporating entrepreneurial programme into education system won't change curriculum
JOHANNESBURG - Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube said incorporating an entrepreneurial programme into the education system will not mean the curriculum changes. Currently, South Africa uses the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement, known as CAPS. Speaking at a dialogue on Monday hosted at Birchwood Hotel, east of Johannesburg, the minister was joined by an inter-departmental team and funders like the European Union (EU). They were engaging on how to nationalise the Entrepreneurship, Education and Employability Initiative, which was, in 2018, tested on 73 schools. The programme teaches learners from a foundation phase on how to think innovatively and create jobs. Gwarube said this will help deal with the unemployment crisis. 'What we are saying is that already in our schools there is an offering in terms of subjects and in schools of skill. We have technical and vocational training, but how do we introduce entrepreneurial training so that we don't only produce job seekers but people who are going to be problem solvers, innovators?'
The Citizen
08-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Brighter future for learners as AVBOB literacy campaign expands reach
AMONG this year's beneficiaries of the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign, in collaboration with Oxford University Press South Africa (OUPSA), are Alipore Primary School, ML Sultan St Mary's Primary School and Wentworth Primary School. The campaign is a nationwide trolley library initiative that improves access to books in communities across the country, with a focus on schools and NPOs. Also read: Find your best words: AVBOB poetry competition entries open in August The announcement was made at an event hosted at the Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg on May 29. The project addresses the ongoing challenges of low literacy and numeracy levels at foundation phase by providing young learners with culturally and linguistically relevant materials in all 11 official written languages. This year's campaign reflects substantial growth from the 180 library trolleys distributed in its inaugural year, 2022. Each of the 1 000 mobile libraries includes 500 OUPSA books selected to support literacy and numeracy skills in alignment with the CAPS curriculum. The total number of books distributed this year will exceed 500 000, up from 250 000 in 2024. Speaking on a panel alongside Carl van der Riet (CEO of AVBOB Group), Karen Simpson (MD of OUPSA), Gugu Ndebele (executive director of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls), the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube remarked: 'This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnerships. The campaign addresses a pressing national priority, the development of foundational literacy and numeracy, while supporting policy frameworks aimed at integrating diversity into school curricula. It does so in a way that honours South Africa's linguistic and cultural richness, ensuring that no child is left behind.' Also read: Literacy workshop helps start discussions on promoting reading Simpson added that the partnership reflects the organisation's core belief that literacy is a foundation for lifelong learning and opportunity. 'Access to books in a learner's mother tongue has a profound impact on their ability to grasp foundational concepts, stay engaged in the classroom, and remain in the education system. We are steadfast on publishing our books in all of South Africa's official written languages, and the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign enables us to place these resources directly in the hands of the learners who need them most.' The trolleys are designed to be mobile, durable, and easy to access in shared or under-resourced learning environments. Along with books that promote reading for enjoyment, they include materials designed to develop numeracy, making the campaign one of the few national projects focused on both reading and mathematics at the foundational phase. The campaign also continues to grow in reach and engagement. This year's campaign received 8 661 nominations from across all nine provinces, submitted by educators, caregivers, community leaders and members of the public. Van der Riet said that although the campaign has grown substantially, its original purpose is to provide access to quality education materials, dignity and hope for a better future. 'Literacy and numeracy are academic skills and critical tools for participation, for opportunity, and dignity.' 'They are the building blocks of future learning and the means by which children are empowered to shape their own lives. The AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign embodies our belief that meaningful social investment must be both practical and purpose driven.' Since 2022, the campaign has evolved from a pilot initiative into one of the most extensive mobile library programmes in the country. Educational experts have long advocated for mother tongue instruction at the early stages of schooling. Research has consistently shown that when children learn to read in their home language, they are more likely to stay in school, perform better academically, and transition successfully to additional languages later in life. For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
