It started with a letter.

When Andre Oosthuysen, Executive Head of St Benedict’s College, wrote “What has happened to teachers’ rights?” to his school community, it sparked a national conversation about the rising hostility between parents and educators.

In this episode of The Education Show, David talks with Andre about why teachers are feeling under siege, how post-Covid stress and frustration are showing up in school corridors, and what it will take to rebuild trust between parents and teachers.

This conversation explores:

• The human cost of “keyboard warrior” parenting

• How public anger is spilling into classrooms

• Why empathy and partnership are essential to education

• What schools and families can do to restore respect and collaboration

The letter that inspired this episode called on parents and teachers to remember that “the school and its staff are not your opponent in the education of your child.” This interview expands that message into a national reflection on accountability, compassion, and the shared duty of raising the next generation.

#TheEducationShow #Parenting #Teaching #SchoolCulture #TeacherSupport #RespectStartsHere

Money Smart Week 2025 is about Smart Money: Financial Foundations for a Resilient Future. On this episode of The Education Show, David speaks with Duane Kohl, founder of Strategic Financial Services, about the building blocks of financial literacy and why they matter at every stage of life.

Duane shares his own journey from dental technology to financial planning, and unpacks the realities many South Africans face: living beyond their means, ignoring wills, misunderstanding compound interest, and waiting too long to save.

In this conversation we cover:

• Why wills are essential, even in your 20s

• The “insecurity trap” that drives unnecessary debt and spending

• How to build good money habits, starting with paying yourself first

• The rule of thumb for saving percentages by age

• The miracle of compound interest (and why boring investing works)

• Why financial advisors are not only for the rich

Financial literacy is not about doing everything at once. It’s about small, consistent steps that protect your future self. This episode is a practical reminder that resilience starts with the choices we make today.

🔗 Find out more: strategic.org.za 📲 Connect with Duane Kohl on LinkedIn: Strategic Financial Services

#MoneySmartWeek #FinancialLiteracy #TheEducationShow

Money Smart Week 2025 is here, and if there was ever a time to face your finances head on, it is now.

In this episode of The Education Show, we sit down with Reagan Mitchell, founder of WealthyMe, to unpack the realities of financial literacy in South Africa. From the shock of under delivering pension funds to the trap of debt that swallows more than 60% of household income, Reagan lays bare the challenges and the opportunities of taking control of your money.

We cover:

• Why financial literacy is the missing subject in most classrooms

• The dangers of easy credit and South Africa’s low savings culture

• How to start planning for retirement (yesterday was best, but today still works)

• Myths about financial advisors being “only for the rich”

• Practical first steps for teachers, parents and young professionals

Money may not buy happiness, but ignorance will certainly cost you. This conversation is about shifting from survival mode to building long term security.

🔗 Connect with WealthyMe: wealthymefs.co.za 📲 WhatsApp: 064 529 6508

#MoneySmartWeek #FinancialLiteracy #TheEducationShow

In this episode, we speak with Ruda Landman and Murray Hofmeyr from StudyTrust. They explore how AI is reshaping learning, why critical thinking matters more than ever, and how resources like Grad, GradNext, and MyNext help students move from school to university and into the workplace. This is about real tools for real challenges.

In this episode of The Education Show, we speak with Amy Dallas from Buzzbotics, one of only five Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellows in South Africa. Amy explains how Microsoft tools like Reading Coach, Teams, and Copilot are reshaping education for teachers and learners. We talk about change management, digital literacy, teacher empowerment, and practical ways to bring tech into the classroom without overwhelming educators.

What happens when one of South Africa’s top tech leaders sits down to talk about AI and education? In this episode of The Education Show, Asif Valley, National Technology Officer at Microsoft South Africa, shares his journey and unpacks how AI is already reshaping schools, classrooms, and leadership. We explore how AI can support principals with personalised insights, make admin smarter, and help teachers plan, mark, and connect better with learners. Asif also addresses the harder questions — the risks of AI, digital responsibility, and the urgent need for reskilling as jobs evolve. If you’re wondering where education is heading and what role you could play, this conversation offers a clear, honest starting point. Listen in and be part of the shift.

Welcome to our inspiring 5-part podcast series that explores how we can equip South African learners with the skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world! Join us as we dive into powerful conversations with changemakers, education specialists, advocates and educators. Together, we’ll explore what 21st century skills are, why they’re important, the value of child participation and strategic partnership, innovative teaching strategies, the role of indigenous knowledge and reimagined assessments that enable holistic learning and prepare learners for a dynamic world.

Whether you're a policymaker, parent, educator, lifelong learner or someone who’s passionate about the future of South Africa’s next generation, this series offers fresh perspectives and actionable insights to inspire meaningful change in South African classrooms - for all!

In this episode, Hana Yoshimoto, Chief of Education at UNICEF shares her take on the different ways we can think about assessment in the South African context. She starts the conversation on why we need a shift in assessment methods in the classroom and how that prepares learners to gain skills for a changing world.

🎧 Tune in and join the conversation!

#AssessmentReform #FutureSkills #EducationAssessment #ProblemSolvingSkills #CreativityInEducation #InnovativeAssessment #UNICEF #GlobalEducation