Tribute to Prof Finn Reygan

Posted by Shela McCullough on 27 August 2022, 12:45 SAST

Many of us at MIET AFRICA were privileged to have worked with Prof Finn Reygan over the past decade, with our relationship strengthening particularly over the last few years. Finn contributed significantly through his active participation in several regional research studies conducted by MIET AFRICA, was one of the initiators of the recently established CSTL Research programme, and served on the CSTL Investment Portfolio Reference Committee.

Finn’s passion and enthusiasm for ensuring the rights of all people are upheld, especially the most marginalised, was infectious, and he was able to influence attitudes for the good through his courage and willingness to speak out against injustice. An optimist with a positive outlook on life, none of us will forget Finn’s robust, joyful laughter that could be recognised from afar!

An extremely proud and caring father and grandfather, our condolences and comforting thoughts and prayers are sent to his children, grandchild, siblings and all his loved ones.

Hamba kahle, Finn - may your soul rest in peace.

Love from all at MIET AFRICA

View Full Post and Comments

More than a year after the first known case of Covid-19 set in motion a raft of lockdown restrictions, social science researchers have released new data about the impact of disrupted schooling on children.

The findings confirm what many warned would happen — early grade reading among primary school children in lower quintile schools has suffered a significant setback.

Continue Reading

Imagine a class of 100 Grade 1s on their first day of school, bright-eyed and eager to learn. Of those 100 learners, at least 40 will drop out of school before finishing matric. School dropout has become normalised in many communities, deepening inter-generational poverty, joblessness and inequality.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers estimated that between 230 000 and 300 000 learners dropped out of school each year. Yet, as a country, we are not doing enough to prevent learners from falling through the cracks of our schooling system.

Continue Reading

Despite failing grade 3 and 4, Dumo is determined to get his matric. He wants to study Mechanical Engineering at University and this dream keeps him motivated to persevere with his schooling.

The annual matric pass rate is traditionally considered a measure of the health of our schooling system. This statistic is an important indicator for the basic education sector, but it does not tell us about learners’ pathways through school from Grade 1 to matric.

The matric pass rate only tells us about the percentage of learners who wrote their exams and passed. The pass rate does not tell us what percentage of the cohort of learners who started in Grade 1, actually made it to matric and passed.

Continue Reading