As we come to celebrate Women’s Month in South Africa this August, May Alli, Dean of Teaching and Learning at Acudeo College, believes “empowering girls and women is essential in order for society, and the economy of a country, to change.”
On paper, our education system in South Africa appears to achieve gender parity, with our government having made great strides to address gender inequalities in education by equalising access for female learners. The percentage of female pre-primary students, secondary students, and post-secondary students surpass the percentage of females in the overall population gender split[1].
Sadly, equality in numbers does not mean equality in educational outcomes. The “global assumption that an equal number of girls in school leads to empowerment and gender equity within society may not necessarily be correct in our South African context”[2].
These recent efforts attempt to address the access problem, not the larger societal problem of educational outcomes[3]. The numbers show that girls have equal access to school as their male counterparts; however, their continued education and future opportunities are highly affected by the patriarchal society that their education operates under, with women occupying a lower social status than men and as such, are socialised to work in the home and raise children rather than gain an education.
South Africa’s gender inequality in education is rife, driving a deep division between education and outcomes for far too many girls. Poverty, gender-based violence and sexual assault, committed both in the community as well as by fellow students and even some teachers, teenage pregnancy, along with lack of access to hygiene products and sanitation, are just some of the many barriers faced by girls currently.
In addition, with around 7.1 million South Africans living with HIV/AIDs and the stats indicating that females are four times more likely to be HIV-positive than males, this, along with caring for family members living with HIV/AIDS, may lead them to drop out of school, further limiting their opportunities to pursue careers that could lift them out of poverty.[4]
The statistics are stark when one casts an eye into the workplace and the wider community. Gender inequality, discrimination, and gender-based violence continue to hamper women’s efforts in all sectors, including education. Almost 50% of South Africans report that gender-based violence is common in their communities.
While there are challenges in our education system and larger society, there are also stories of hope. In the heart of South Africa’s schools, our female teachers are a remarkable force behind educational development and community upliftment.
Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ Our female teachers embody this: their hard work, dedication, and passion are the lifeblood of educational growth and change and we honour and celebrate them this women’s month.
Being true problem solvers, they navigate this tough landscape filled with socio-economic challenges, limited resources, and systemic inequalities and in spite of these factors, their creativity shines through in everyday solutions, like finding ways to teach with almost no materials and working in schools with tiny budgets where most parents can’t afford fees or supplies.
They’re master’s at improvising and making do with what they have. Many of these incredible women teachers have personal stories of overcoming challenges like poverty, gender discrimination, and heavy domestic responsibilities. Despite all these challenges, they thrive in their teaching careers while supporting their students, families, and communities.
Women educators in South Africa are strong leaders who focus on collaboration, mentorship, and building supportive teams to foster a sense of shared responsibility.
One such educator is May Alli, Dean of Teaching and Learning at Acudeo College, who’s impacted the education space for over two decades, with her varied and comprehensive experience, from leading multiple teams of teachers in various high schools, nurturing students to achieve their dreams to heading up the Advanced Certificate in Travel and Tourism education programme at the University of Johannesburg.
She’s also spent time with an international training company, gaining exposure to the trends of global education and the movement toward 21st century educational programmes, working closely with the Netherlands Education Department and the Gems Group of Schools in the United Arab Emirates.
As anyone with a passion for learning and teaching will know, it pays to be a lifelong learner and Alli is proof of that, adding her Masters degree in Educational Management and Leadership from the University of Johannesburg to existing qualifications she holds in education, commerce and tourism management. She’s currently enrolled to complete her PhD in Educational Management and Leadership, with a focus on ‘crisis management in education’.
Alli’s passion for education is evident in her current role, Dean of Teaching and Learning at Acudeo College, comprising four campuses in Tshwane, Soweto and Benoni that originated in 2013 as part of a funding relationship with SEIIFSA (Schools and Education Investment Impact Fund of South Africa).
While May acknowledges there are immense challenges still when considering education for girls, she believes that education is the road to opportunity, and a journey that Acudeo College is proud to offer all its learners.
Acudeo College sees the value in partnering with those who can help develop extensive skills development in our learners. Yenza, Matric Live and Reflective Learning are three such partners working with our matrics, in particular, to help them become exam ready and prepare for their mock and final exams.
Yenza, meaning “Do” or “Commit” in isiXhosa & isiZulu, is an end-to-end career platform, combining over 250 data points across a learner’s strengths, personality, interests, values and ability to make integrated, smart recommendations for them, using the very best of data-science and career theory.
Matric Live is a multifunctional education app that has reinvented learning by making learning contextual, visual and not just theoretical. It supports over 16 subjects and it is currently free for our matrics facing their mock final exams.
And Reflective Learning helps identify and close learning gaps so students can reach their full potential in Maths and English. Their programme customises its curriculum to each of our student’s specific needs, focusing precisely on areas of struggle and delivering lessons at just the right level. This tailored approach not only bridges knowledge gaps but also deepens overall understanding, preparing them to achieve higher levels of success.
When asked about her role in the education industry, Alli shared that “while each institution I have been associated with was unique and special, I am often most aware of the similarities. Each of them has given me an opportunity to impact the future generations of South Africa in a meaningful way.”
As the education activist Malala Yousafzai aptly said, ‘One child, one teacher, one pen, and one book can save the world.’ And Alli adds, “it’s important to become a lifelong learner if you’re going to open yourself up for opportunities to come your way”.
This Women’s Month, here’s to all the women who are not just educators, but innovators, leaders, and advocates, shaping the minds and hearts of future generations of South Africans.