Nelson Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐪𝐚𝐛𝐚 𝐌𝐩𝐨𝐟𝐮

We’ll be gathering to honour the incredible life of Nqaba Mpofu, a passionate activist, leader and colleague who poured his heart into the work of the Nelson Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development. Through his dedication, Nqaba worked closely with schools through the Institute’s programmes, supporting teachers and helping strengthen classroom practice in rural communities across the Eastern Cape. His commitment and warmth touched the lives of many.

Join us on Saturday, 8 November 2025 at 12h00, at the Nelson Mandela Institute, 6 Hill Street, East London CBD, or online, as we share stories, memories and reflections on his lasting impact.

Join Online via Microsoft Teams:

Meeting ID: 311 572 140 735
Passcode: 6Ey6go9M

We will also collecting photos, voice notes and written messages to create a special tribute book for his 10-year-old son, Nhloso, filled with memories, love and words of encouragement from those who knew and cherished his dad.

To RSVP, please email: [email protected] | Cell: 073 156 1220

Let’s come together to celebrate Nqaba’s life, his work and the powerful legacy he leaves behind.

Its after lunch, the literacy team is diving back in, grading with purpose and exploring writing choices with writing books, while another group is reading at the right level. The energy’s still high and the learning continues!

Ntombi and Zinyaswa are focusing on structured pedagogy for Grades 2 and 3. They are highlighting the importance of covering all the key components and how an effective structured literacy block boosts learners’ reading and writing skills. Teachers are fully engaged seeing the “why” behind each step really brings the strategies to life!

In the Grade R & 1 maths breakaway, Nobuntu and Qhama are leading teachers through a refresher on lesson strategies — revisiting sequences, scope, and how to build strong maths foundations early on.

Morning momentum continues!

Teachers watching a pre-recorded address by Kim, our Director, on systematising classroom management and pedagogy, then reflecting on how these ideas connect to their own classrooms.

𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝟐 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 (𝐌𝐂𝐂) 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐲!𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫

We kicked things off yesterday with a short welcome and meet-and-greet session to introduce our new teachers and set the tone for the days ahead. During the session, teams reflected on the purpose of the bootcamp, shared goals, and explored what oaching in 2026 could look like from EGMA and CCEM practices to term-based training and district-wide interventions.

Today, we’re diving straight into action with a literacy and maths pre-test, helping us gauge where we’re starting before four days of shared learning, collaboration, and growth. Teachers will write the same test again at the end of the Bootcamp to celebrate their progress and learning journey.

The energy is high, the ideas are flowing and we’re just getting started!

𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 — 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐: 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

It’s been an engaging and insightful Day 2 at the NMI Spring School 2025 in East London! We’re thrilled to have the remarkable graduates of the 2021 UFH bilingual B.Ed programme back with us, now several years into their teaching journeys, for a vibrant continuation of last year’s Winter School.

With rich classroom experience and renewed curiosity, these pioneering teachers have spent the day moving from reflection to action, exploring Structured Pedagogy, Reflections on Classroom Practice, and Grading with Purpose. Conversations around fairness, impact, and bilingual learning have filled the room with energy, collaboration, and shared purpose.

The Spring School continues, with two more days of learning, sharing, and growth ahead. We’ll keep sharing highlights as the journey unfolds.

Yesterday, our Director, Dr. Brian Ramadiro, took part in the International Literacy Day 2025 virtual event hosted by the Department of Basic Education in partnership with UNESCO.

Held under the theme “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era: Bridging the Divide, Unlocking Opportunity,” the event brought together leading voices in education to reflect on how we can advance literacy in a fast-changing world.

Dr. Ramadiro contributed insights on the importance of strengthening language and literacy teaching, particularly in rural schools, and the role of teacher education in ensuring that all children have the opportunity to learn and thrive.

We are proud to stand alongside our partners in reaffirming that literacy is not only a basic right, but also a bridge to opportunity and justice.

“Our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our nation.” – Nelson Mandela

Happy Heritage Month Mzantsi!

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞

Our work in the Intermediate Phase focuses on strengthening language learning through a literature-based intervention. One of the ways we do this is by selecting and purchasing high-quality, enjoyable storybooks for our schools.

By giving learners access to a variety of meaningful texts, both fiction and nonfiction, we aim to nurture a love of reading, support purposeful writing, and teach grammar in meaningful ways. Ultimately, our goal is to make language learning more engaging and effective for all learners, ensuring engagement and exposure to different text types.

To ensure learners have ongoing access, we’ve introduced a classroom library model where learners take the lead as class librarians. This week, new books will be delivered to schools, expanding these libraries and opening even more opportunities for learners to read.

At the heart of our work lies a simple truth: every learner deserves good storybooks in their classroom.

𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐫𝐬. 𝐕𝐮𝐲𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐳𝐢 𝐕. 𝐀𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢

Today, we join the Mqanduli community in celebrating Mrs. Vuyokazi V. Arosi, fondly known as Mamthi.

For many years, Mamthi has served with strength, wisdom, and compassion as principal of Mqanduli JSS, a school that has been a proud and committed part of the MCC for a very long time. Her leadership has touched the lives of countless children, families, and teachers. She guided her school with love and dedication, always putting the learners first and keeping the door open for new ideas.

At the Nelson Mandela Institute, we know that Mamthi’s journey has been one of building hope in rural education. She believed that every child, no matter where they come from, deserves the chance to learn, to grow, and to dream big. For this, we honour her.

Though she has retired, her example will continue to inspire us. She leaves behind not only memories, but also a living legacy in the learners she has nurtured and the colleagues she has strengthened.

We say enkosi kakhulu, Mamthi, for walking this road with us. May this next chapter of your life be filled with peace, joy, and the love of family and community.

With deep respect and gratitude,
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲

Last week, the NMI, in partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE), co-facilitated a Phonics to Reading training at the ECDoE's Mandla Makupula Education Leadership Institute in East London. About 55 Grade 1 teachers, including their Heads of Departments, attended the workshop, each receiving a starter pack of the Phonics Toolkit to use in their classrooms. The aim of the workshop was to equip teachers with practical resources and strategies to help learners catch up on reading work that may have been left behind. We are encouraged by the teachers’ dedication and deeply appreciate the support of the Curriculum Advisors in making this work possible. We look forward to seeing how these tools will strengthen the culture of reading in classrooms.