Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

Advancing Vision 130 through online teacher training in Lesotho

27 February 2025 | Story Edzani Nephalela | Photo Supplied

Teacher Training in Lesotho 2025 — Various stakeholders participated in the two-day workshop from 16 to 17 January 2025 as part of the Online Teacher Training in Mathematics and Science on Content project. The initiative aims to equip secondary school mathematics and science teachers across Lesotho with essential skills.

The Faculty of Education at the University of the Free State (UFS) has taken a significant step in regional engagement and educational transformation through its partnership with Lesotho’s Ministry of Education and Training. In October 2023, the faculty, through its Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology Education Department, embarked on an R11 million project to provide online training for 235 mathematics and science teachers in secondary schools across Lesotho.

The Online Teacher Training in Mathematics and Science Content project will mark its final stage on 28 February 2025, following a two-day workshop from 16 to 17 January 2025. The workshop brought together key stakeholders to reflect on its impact and explore opportunities for further collaboration in teacher development. This project aligns with the UFS’s Vision 130 strategy, reinforcing its commitment to research-led, student-centred, and socially responsive education.

“This initiative is an example of our dedication to leveraging digital learning tools to address regional education challenges,” said Dr Kwazi Magwenzi, Director of Projects and Innovation at the UFS Faculty of Education. “By equipping teachers with enhanced pedagogical skills, we are contributing to long-term improvements in the quality of education in Lesotho.”

Strengthening regional collaboration and societal development

Over the past few years, the faculty has also strengthened its role in delivering high-quality education programmes, such as the Southern African region’s SANRAL Mathematics and Science PhD Programme. Through close collaboration with industry partners, public institutions, and the private sector, the faculty has extended its reach to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), ensuring its teacher development programmes remain relevant and impactful.

“One of our key objectives is to address pressing societal needs actively,” Dr Magwenzi added. “Our commitment to regional engagement means leveraging our expertise to contribute meaningfully to the development of the African continent, particularly in Southern Africa. As our close neighbour, Lesotho was a natural focus for this initiative.”

Expanding the faculty’s footprint in the region

The success of this initiative has laid the foundation for expanding the UFS’s regional footprint through additional short courses tailored to societal needs. The faculty envisions extending its expertise to other regions, further solidifying its position as a leader in education and research.

“As we conclude this phase of the project, we are inspired to build on these achievements,” said Prof Maria Tsakeni, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology Education in the Faculty of Education. “This initiative has demonstrated the power of strategic partnerships and innovative learning models. Moving forward, we aim to design more programmes that contribute to the educational and economic growth of the region.”

By fostering regional collaboration, enhancing teacher competencies, and driving educational innovation, the Faculty of Education at the UFS continues to shape the future of education in Africa. This initiative is a testament to its unwavering commitment to academic excellence and societal transformation.

News Archive

Cornell academic focuses on international trade in inaugural lecture at the UFS

2013-11-12

Prof Muna Ndulo
Photo: Stephen Collett
12 November 2013

Prof Muna Ndulo, Professor at the Cornell Law School, delivered his inaugural lecture as Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Mercantile Law at the University of the Free State (UFS). The topic of his lecture was: Facilitating regional and world trade through international trade.

With this topic, Prof Ndulo said that trade is a recognised contributor to the Growth Domestic Product of countries and its role can be used to reduce global poverty and inequality. “Although Africa’s GDP is 5-6% on average, with a positive increase in direct foreign investments, its meaningful participation in world trade has been decimal,” he said.

Trade between African countries is 12%, which is the lowest in the world. This is in comparison to intercontinental trade in European states (72%), North America (48%), Asia (52%) and 26% in Latin America. The EU and USA are Africa’s key export markets. High transport costs, import substitution, intra-regional transactions, conflict of rules and bills of exchange remain as challenges. There are also no common standards with regards to the development of manpower as an important factor in production.

Prof Ndulo suggested solutions which Africa can use to achieve harmonisation. This includes the introduction of normative rules designed in a framework of a treaty. A modern law approach could be used to develop legislation and ensure uniformity; and lastly, the formulation of commercial customs and practice. “Harmonisation demands a high level of expertise and quality research,” said Prof Ndulo.

He added: “When legislation is developed, it must resemble the needs of our trade laws in order to maximise benefits.”

He concluded that, for harmonisation to be achieved, the political environment must play a major role in regional and world trade.

Prof Elizabeth Snyman-Van Deventer, Head of the Department of Mercantile Law, made sincere closing remarks on how much we as a continent have become an enemy of our own self by not having trade relationships among ourselves as Africans. Prof Snyman urged those in the legal fraternity to be part of the harmonisation of trade laws and eliminate the barriers by improving legislation.

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept