Young prof lauded
ALEXANDRA – NYDA praises young professor's achievements during youth month.
The newly elected executive of the National Youth Development Agency heralded June as youth month by acknowledging an exemplary youth achiever who scaled the ladder in the academic sphere.
The executive members are, Sifiso Mtsweni, chairperson; Bavelile Hlongwa, deputy chairperson (female); Khomotjo Maimela (female); Ndumiso Mokako, Itiseng Morolong, Yershen Pillay, Zandile Majozi (female).
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They welcomed the appointment by the University of KwaZulu-Natal of 34-year-old Professor Thabo Msibi as the Dean and Head of the School of Education. In a statement, they said Prof. Msibi holds a Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Education honours (completed summa cum laude) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal; a Master of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, United States of America; and a PhD from the University of Cambridge, England.
He has an extensive research record in highly reputable scholarly platforms, serves on five international and local journals’ editorial boards on Gender and Education, Journal of Lesbian Gay Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Youth (LGBTI), Gender and Language, Perspectives in Education and Transformation in Higher Education. Also, he received the University’s Distinguished Teachers Awards for prolific research at a time when he also supervised and graduated numerous postgraduate students.
Other accolades include the DVC’s Community Service Award in 2015 and memberships of the ministerial committee appointed by Minister of Education Angie Motshega to investigate discrimination at schools, and the board of the Durban LGBTI Community and Health Centre.
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Mtsweni (34) said Msibi’s appointment told the tale of a youth committed to academia and transformation of society through social cohesion and nation building. “We support the call made by the Department of Higher Education to set up a ministerial task team to investigate an anomaly in our society where despite 23 years of democracy, 83 per cent of university professors are still white. His appointment guarantees the future of our higher education institutions, and opens up a dialogue about our education system and its throughput as we consider access to higher education critical for youth development,” said Mtsweni.
Details: Lerato.Gambu@nyda.gov.za 076 322 1165
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