The Faculty of Education at the University of the Free State (UFS) wrapped up the UFS’s April 2025 graduation season with ceremonies held on 12 April 2025, and cheers were especially loud for two graduates who were among 19 PhD recipients.
Marking the culmination of years of dedicated research, Dr Gale Davids, Lecturer in the Faculty’s School of Education Studies, and Dr Bheki Sandhleni, Deputy Principal at Khumbula High School, were proud to be among the distinguished cohort.
Their respective specialisations – Dr Davids in policy studies for restorative justice and Dr Sandhleni in education management for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) improvement – underscore a shared dedication to impactful scholarship that promises to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of education in South Africa.
Both graduates received a Doctor of Philosophy degree – Dr Davids’s with specialisation in policy studies in education, and Dr Sandhleni’s in education management and leadership.
Dr Sandhleni said that walking across the graduation stage symbolised the “crossing of a finish line”, while Dr Davids described the moment as “a powerful one which brought a deep sense of accomplishment”.
“This moment is the peak of years of hard work, late nights, challenging projects, and personal growth, and to have this research journey recognised in such a tangible way feels truly rewarding,” Dr Davids says.
The conferred qualifications
Dr Sandhleni’s PhD focused on ‘Principals’ leadership practices for improving teaching and learning in Mathematics, Science, and Technology (MST) schools in the Mpumalanga Province’. He regards his study as a “contribution to the scholarship on instructional leadership focusing on the roles, leadership approaches, and policy guidelines used by MST school principals to enhance teaching and learning”.
Dr Davids’s PhD studied ‘The implementation of a restorative approach to learner discipline, underpinned by transformative constitutional principles to foster non-violent schools’. Her research looked closely at how restorative justice practices can replace traditional, punitive disciplinary systems in schools.
Reflecting on their academic journeys
The new PhD graduates say getting to this point has been a challenging experience. Dr Sandhleni says everything from deciding on a research topic to wrapping up the project was difficult. As such, he regards achieving this milestone as a symbol of his dedication and perseverance.
Dr Davids agrees, saying that the process was demanding. Mastering legal concepts and translating theory into practice were just some of the challenges she encountered as she worked on her study. However, she describes the pursuit of her PhD as a “transformative experience” and adds, “Completing this academic milestone is deeply gratifying, but I am equally committed to ensuring that my research moves beyond theory to become a catalyst for real change in school disciplinary practices.”
Exploring a new chapter
The new graduates also share the sentiment that completion of their degree allows an opportunity to close one chapter and explore new ones.
“I am really happy for this achievement, and I hope that it brings me to the beginning of a new chapter in my life, whether it’s a career in academia, research, or higher positions in the same field where I am now,” Dr Sandhleni said. In addition to plans for publishing books and journal articles, he also hopes to “embark on a project where I train principals and other science, maths and technology members on how to be instructional leaders and to improve academic performance”.
Dr Davids hopes to formulate collaborations with schools which are open to taking on the restorative justice approaches outlined in her study. She says collaborating with teachers and learners will provide her with the opportunity to look at “real-world implementation challenges and successes, building on the theoretical foundations of my PhD”.