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Hard work pays off: Two Education Faculty graduates celebrate PhD success

17 April 2025 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Kaleidoscope Studios

Dr Bheki Sandhleni and Dr Gale Davids — Dr Bheki Sandhleni; Deputy Principal at Khumbula High School and Dr Gale Davids; Lecturer in the School of Education Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS) were two of 19 PhD graduates from the Faculty of Education during the UFS’s April 2025 graduations.

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”.

News Archive

UFS council elects Nwaila and Hancke

2005-03-15

Dr Charles Nwaila, Superintendent-General of Education in the Free State, was elected Vice-chairperson of the UFS Council and Judge Faan Hancke was re-elected as Chairperson today.

According to the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, the election of Dr Nwaila is an important achievement for the UFS as Dr Nwaila is a well known leader in education in the Free State.

Dr Nwaila pledged to work constructively with the UFS council and management to ensure that the UFS benefits all people of the province and the country.

The appointments are valid for a term of three years from 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2008.

The elections took place at the quarterly meeting of the UFS Council where a number of other key transformation steps were approved.

The Council approved a Strategic Plan for the UFS which reflects a renewed focus on transformation of the institution, calling it an important roadmap for the future of the UFS.

According to Prof Fourie, the Strategic Plan tried strike a balance between continuity and change, addressing the need to remain an excellent university in an ever-changing context and environment.

Prof Fourie said transformation had many aspects and dimensions and could not be reduced to an issue of numbers.

The Strategic Plan identifies five strategic priorities and corresponding challenges in the next phase of transformation.

The priorities are:

quality and excellence
equity, diversity and redress
financial sustainability
regional co-operation and engagement.
outward thrust

Prof Fourie said that besides the five strategic priorities the plan also reflected concrete actions and interventions to address them.

He said the renewed focus on transformation is embedded in the priorities and specific actions that are identified.

The Council congratulated the management for the roadmap and for the achievements that have already been achieved in terms of transformation.

In order to draft a comprehensive Transformation Plan that will give substance to certain aspects of the UFS Strategic plan – or roadmap – the Council approved the establishment of a Transformation Plan Team.

The team will consist of about 16 people, which includes the two coordinators, Prof Teuns Verschoor, Vice-Rector: Academic Operations, and Dr Ezekiel Moraka, Vice-Rector: Student Affairs.

According to Prof Verschoor, the team was chosen and approved by the Executive Management earlier for the individual contributions that they could make.

While the individuals do not represent particular constituencies on campus they are a very diverse group of persons in terms of race, gender and various sections of the campus and the satellite campuses.

Prof Fourie, said there was an urgency and importance attached to the work of the Transformation Plan Team.

He said that while the team must produce a plan within a tight deadline, the task must be carried out very well, which could mean different stages in the work of the team.

According to the Rector, the UFS must take the lead in best practice transformation, while not underestimating the complexity of the issues facing the UFS.

The full list of names will be finalized soon.

MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by: Mnr Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Cel: 072 207 8334
Tel: (051) 401-2749
11 Maart 2005

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