VVOB in South Africa

03/09/2026

Reading a sentence. Understanding a story. Working through a maths problem.

These foundational skills may begin with small steps, but they shape a learner’s ability to participate, progress and continue learning throughout their education.

On International Literacy Day, we’re putting the spotlight on foundational literacy and numeracy, and on the teachers, school leaders, governments and partners working to strengthen these essential building blocks of learning.

See how VVOB is contributing to stronger foundational learning through partnerships and system-wide support: https://vvob.org/our-work/foundational-literacy-and-numeracy

02/09/2026

Join our next Keep It Cool 2.0 Climate Change Education webinar where we're looking at how climate change, Indigenous Knowledge and resilient futures connect.

Emeritus Professor Rob O'Donoghue will unpack how communities across southern Africa have responded to climate variability and extreme weather over the years, drawing on Indigenous knowledge and practices.

Date: 03 September 2026
Time: 16:00 SAST
Duration: 1 hour
Platform: Microsoft Teams

Register here 👉: 3457e6a8-9bff-4e78-bc2d-f465a46bc31a@14ca01cd-e98c-45f1-878c-06cb941b90e5?source=copyLinkLegacyShareEventDialog" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/3457e6a8-9bff-4e78-bc2d-f465a46bc31a@14ca01cd-e98c-45f1-878c-06cb941b90e5?source=copyLinkLegacyShareEventDialog

A confirmation email with the Teams link will be sent after registration.

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment | DHET | Department of Basic Education South Africa

02/09/2026

In South Africa’s classrooms, the foundation phase is more than just the first step. It is the bedrock of lifelong learning. The way children encounter words, stories and meaning in their earliest years shapes not only their academic journey but also their confidence and curiosity about the world.

Across rural KwaZulu-Natal, teachers are finding new ways to make literacy come alive. They’re moving beyond drills and worksheets, turning lessons into conversations that connect directly with learners’ lives.

For Phezile Chiya, that has meant rethinking what happens in her classroom and giving learners more space to talk, question and engage with what they read.

Read Phezile's story: https://www.vvob.org/stories-news/learning-to-read-with-understanding

Department of Basic Education South Africa | SACE | VVOB - education for development | KZNDOE

31/08/2026

Teaching and learning don't happen in isolation. What a teacher believes, how they interact with learners and the choices they make in class are shaped by more than what's in front of them. School culture plays a part. So do community norms and policy. All of it feeds into how a classroom runs and how learners perform. That's why teachers need environments that back them.

See how these systems connect and what they mean for VVOB's Teacher Professional Development for Gender-Responsive Pedagogy Conceptual Framework: https://www.vvob.org/our-work/research-resources/conceptual-framework-for-teacher-professional-development-for-gender-responsive-pedagogy-tpd-for-grp

Enabel | European Commission | VVOB in Kenya | Department of Basic Education South Africa

26/08/2026

What makes partnerships work when supporting early childhood development at scale?

Our latest Funda Udlale Nathi learning brief draws on 32 interviews with government and civil society partners to identify five conditions that matter:

• Clearly defined and jointly planned roles.

• Structured and frequent communication.

• Visible government ownership.

• Strong district-level leadership and buy-in.

• Continued investment in trust and relationships.

The brief shows that partnership is more than a way to implement a programme. It can strengthen reach, credibility, accountability and sustainability of support to ECD.

Read the learning brief: 👇

The LEGO Foundation | Ntataise Trust | Department of Basic Education South Africa | Letcee

Supporting the professional development of Early Childhood Development (ECD) educators, teachers and leaders across KwaZulu-Natal requires collaboration between government and civil society.

24/08/2026

Join our second Keep It Cool Climate Change education webinar, focusing on practical ways schools can incorporate education for sustainable development into everyday school practice and strengthen existing sustainability initiatives.

Date: 27 August 2026
Time: 16:00 SAST
Platform: Microsoft Teams

👉 Register for the webinar: https://lnkd.in/d3WM-k5j

A confirmation email with the Teams link will be sent after registration.

24/08/2026

Teachers are critical in creating inclusive classrooms where all learners feel supported. Supporting them with the right knowledge, skills, practices and gender-responsive competencies through continuous enables every learner to participate, thrive and pursue their aspirations free from limiting gender stereotypes.

This is why VVOB recently developed a Conceptual Framework for Teacher Professional Development for Gender-Responsive Pedagogy across Sub-Saharan Africa, which serves as a guiding document to tailor , streamline and classroom practices and equip learners with gender life skills for effective learning and equitable futures.

Explore the framework: https://bit.ly/GRPFrameworkTPD

Enabel | European Commission | VVOB in Kenya | Department of Basic Education South Africa

Teacher Professional Development for Gender-Responsive Pedagogy is an emerging need across Africa. The Conceptual Framework for Teacher Professional Development for Gender-Responsive Pedagogy (TPD for GRP) in Sub-Saharan Africa is therefore a guiding document that seeks to create a harmonised unders...

19/08/2026

13/07/2026

We have been featured on the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education’s Edu News.

The publication highlights our input to the provincial discussions on reading, literacy and curriculum leadership.

Thank you to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education for recognising our work and partnership.

Department of Basic Education South Africa | KZNDOE | VVOB - education for development

13/07/2026

Lasting change in education is built in classrooms, schools and communities, and it grows when teachers, school leaders and governments have the support to sustain it.

Our 2025 Annual Report captures that work across Africa, Asia and Latin America: the ideas being tested, the partnerships behind them and the people making change happen every day.

Check out our annual report: 👇

Check out this Presentation designed by Josworld Support.