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UFS dean contributes to education quality assurance through Umalusi council appointment

23 June 2022 | Story Nonsindiso Qwabe | Photo Sonia Small (Kaleidoscope Studios)

Prof Loyisa Jita — Member of sixth Umalusi Council, Prof Loyiso Jita

Dean of Education and SANRAL Chair in Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology Education, Prof Loyiso Jita, has been appointed as a member of the sixth Umalusi Council for General and Further Education and Training quality assurance for 2022-2026.

Umalusi council members are appointed by the Minister of Education for their professional expertise in education and training. The council is formally mandated to research matters related to the sub-framework of qualifications responsible for the General and Further Education and Training qualifications. Prof Jita will be playing a governance role in Umalusi as an organisation.

Appointment a recognition of contribution to quality assurance systems

Sharing his sentiments on the appointment, Prof Jita said it was an affirmation of his dedication to delivering quality education in the country. “Being on the council is further recognition of one’s contribution to the quality assurance systems of the country and an elevation of the role in decision-making. The council, for instance, provides final approval of Grade 12 national results in public and private schools.”

He previously served on one of the Umalusi sub-committees responsible for assessment and standards, also known as the Grade 12 Standardisation Committee.

The sixth council will meet for the first time in September for induction and allocating specific roles to members.

Prof Jita joined the UFS in 2012. In 2014, the University of the Free State (UFS), in partnership with the South African National Roads Agency, launched the SANRAL Chair in Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education on the Bloemfontein Campus, and Prof Jita was appointed as the first SANRAL Chair. In 2017, he was appointed as Dean of Education.

News Archive

UFS trains Kovsies to become great in world terms – Prof Jonathan Jansen

2016-01-19

First-year students from the University of the Free State (UFS) recently attended the welcoming ceremony at the Red Square of the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Johan Roux

The University of the Free State (UFS) does not train Kovsies to become great in Bloemfontein or even South Africa. The UFS trains them to become great in the world.

With these words, Prof Jonathan Jansen welcomed the first-year class of 2016 to the “home of Wayde van Niekerk, Rolene Strauss, and the 2015 Varsity Cup rugby champions”.

Prof Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, welcomed the newcomers to the start of the “best time of their lives” on 15 January 2016 at the Red Square of the Bloemfontein Campus. First-years and their parents attended the annual welcoming ceremony.

Prof Jansen congratulated the students on choosing the UFS, and on being part of the elite group that was selected to study at the university.

The UFS received 25 142 applications from newcomers, he said, although there are only about 8 000 places. In 2015, there were roughly 17 500 applications.

He said it was also the most diverse group of applications the UFS had ever received.

Access to education

According to Prof Jansen, the UFS is committed to helping poor students gain access to education, no matter what their background or the colour of their skin.

Lindokuhle Ntuli, the UFS Student Representative Council (SRC) President, said higher education should be more accessible. He said South Africa has allowed education to become commercialised.

“The sooner we as a country realise education isn’t an expense, but rather an investment, the better,” he said.

UFS campaigns

Prof Jansen thanked the UFS SRC for the Right to Learn (R2L) campaign. Launched by the SRC on 30 October 2015, this campaign has already raised R1.2 million to help academically-deserving underprivileged students to study.

“I have launched a campaign myself to raise R100 million between now and September. About 50% of my time will go into this,” Prof Jansen said.

“I will work tirelessly with Lindokuhle and the SRC to raise money.”

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