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30 July 2020 | Story Igno van Niekerk | Photo Igno van Niekerk
Keabetswe Malebo was recipient to the scholarship by Abbe Levin.
Great stories are often the result of unexpected connections made across time and space. Upon looking back and connecting dots, one is often surprised at how seemingly random events lead to happy endings, which in themselves become beginnings for new stories.

Leaving a legacy

When Ida Manana Siyila left South Africa in the first half of the twentieth century, no one would have known how her legacy would influence a young student at the UFS many years later. While working for the same American family for more than 30 years, she never stopped learning and working to improve herself. Ida, proud of her dual citizenship, never lost contact with her friends and family in Bloemfontein, wishing to return to Bloemfontein in her old age. Her American family made sure that this wish was fulfilled.

For Keabetswe Malebo, the first six months as a student were tough. An energetic young lady with joy in her voice and a passion for learning and making a difference in her community, Keabetswe had been squatting with a friend while studying at the UFS. The friend was running out of money; there was no way Keabetswe could pay her debt, and her friend could not afford the rent. No rent, no accommodation. No accommodation, no further studies.

Changing a life

Abbe Levin was sincerely grateful for what Ida Siyila had done for her family. In 2017, Abbe made a donation to the UFS requesting that it be used as a scholarship for a disadvantaged student in Ida’s name.

When Keabetswe read about the scholarship, she applied. “I felt it was for me, I was so excited and afraid.” Keabetswe’ s belief, commitment, and hard work were rewarded when she was granted the scholarship. “I got the money just in time to buy a laptop, a printer, and a microwave … and of course to pay the rent I owed my friend.”

Since then, Keabetswe has met Abbe Levin online, and they have become friends, communicating, sharing family pictures and stories, ever grateful for the never-ending story of Ida Manana Siyila.

News Archive

UFS discontinues one Masters programme
2006-07-26

As from next year, the University of the Free State (UFS) will no longer offer one of its specialist master’s degrees in education – the M Ed in Education Management.

 The other six M Ed programmes that are currently being offered at the UFS will continue as normal.

 The decision to discontinue one of the M Ed programmes follows a national review of M Ed programmes in Educational Management and Leadership by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the Council on Higher Education (CHE).

 Of the 23 tertiary institutions whose M Ed programmes in Educational Management and Leadership were reviewed by the HEQC, only 7 received full accreditation.   

 “The findings of the HEQC affect only one of our M Ed degree programmes, namely the M Ed in Educational Management,” said Prof Magda Fourie, Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the UFS

 “We will be paying full attention to the findings of the HEQC with a view to correcting some of the shortcomings that have been identified by the HEQC and will consider submitting a reviewed proposal for such a qualification in two years time,” she said.

 According to Prof Fourie, the programme currently has 30 students enrolled.  “These students – spread across their first and second years of the degree programme – will be allowed to complete their studies with the full support of the UFS and the School of Education,” said Prof Fourie.

 “The qualification that has been awarded to students who have already completed their studies for this specific M Ed in Education Management degree programme remains a valid qualification and is not affected by the HEQC review,” said Prof Fourie.

 She said the UFS welcomed the efforts of the HEQC to ensure that all academic programmes offered by higher education institutions meet certain standards.

“One of the primary problem areas in the M Ed in Educational Management offered by the UFS identified by the HEQC, was that the programme is too practice orientated and must be more theoretical to comply with the academic requirements of a master’s degree.  This was a result of the fact that the programme was initially compiled in consultation with principals and the provincial Department of Education to address their needs,” said Prof Fourie.

“The UFS will in the mean time offer an advanced certificate in Educational Management and Leadership from next year.  This is a new course that will stretch over a period of two years and will ensure that we can still address the needs of teachers and principals,” said Prof Fourie.

 “The UFS remains committed to providing top quality degree programmes in all its six faculties and will continue to work with the HEQC in ensuring that this actually happens,” said Prof Fourie.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za 
25 July 2006

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