Minister Siviwe Gwarube – Department of Basic Education – Quality Education

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to South Africa’s Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, who shares her passion and vision for transforming education in South Africa impacting the lives of 13,500,000 learners. Drawing inspiration from her upbringing in a typical South African household, raised by her grandmother, Minister Gwarube reflects on her grandmother’s influence as a trailblazing feminist whose relentless pursuit of quality education shaped her life. Many South Africans straddle multiple worlds, such as living in a village and schooling or working in a city. The minister discusses the current challenges facing South Africa’s education system, highlighting key priorities such as improving access to early childhood development, addressing teenage pregnancies and enabling girls to return to the school system after delivering their baby, and advancing educational quality for all children. She emphasizes that every child is a "national asset," and talks about educators upskilling themselves to prepare for the digital economy and provide optimal learning environments for students. Through initiatives like Techno Girls and Girls Who Code, Minister Gwarube is dedicated to empowering young women, acknowledging how education unlocked opportunities for her. She shares heartfelt insights on personal courage, reflected in her tattoo "Courage Dear Heart," a tribute to her late mum. The minister calls for all South Africans, especially women, to be brave and proactive in unlocking their own potential, encouraging listeners to pursue their dreams with passion and courage. “I think it's important to know that no one is coming to save us and that may sound daunting, but it's also liberating because we're not waiting for anything that's coming to unlock opportunities for us. And so we must go out there and be brave and be courageous even when we are afraid, even when we are afraid of failure. We must do the things that set our souls on fire”, Minister Siviwe Gwarube. Tune in for more…