NASCEE Round Up | 21 August 2026

Catch up on the latest from NASCEE and South Africa’s education ecosystem. This edition celebrates NASCEE members recognised among the M&G 200 Young South Africans 2026 and features upcoming conversations on reading data, literacy and Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education, alongside events and opportunities from across the sector.

The Gauteng Regional Networking Event brings together education stakeholders to connect, share learning and explore how **reading data can be transformed into meaningful action to improve literacy outcomes**. The event will create opportunities to strengthen collaboration, align initiatives with provincial priorities and advance data informed decision making across Gauteng’s education ecosystem.

The KwaZulu Natal Regional Networking Event brings together education stakeholders from across the province to connect, share insights and explore opportunities for stronger collaboration. The event will focus on provincial education priorities, partnership opportunities and strengthening collective action to improve education outcomes in KwaZulu Natal.

NASCEE Round Up | AI Training, Matric Support and Education Sector Updates

Stay informed with the latest edition of the NASCEE Round Up, featuring a fully funded AI training opportunity with WeThinkCode, strategies for supporting the Class of 2026, a NED Connect spotlight on Cotlands, The Learning Trust partnership, and the latest events and opportunities from across South Africa's education ecosystem.

NASCEE is seeking a proactive and relationship-focused Community & Partnerships Coordinator to support the growth of NED Connect, South Africa's national education collaboration platform. If you're passionate about stakeholder engagement, partnerships and strengthening the education ecosystem, we'd love to hear from you.

NASCEE Round Up | Collaboration in Action: Building Stronger Education Partnerships Across South Africa

This week's NASCEE Round Up showcases how collaboration is creating stronger education systems across South Africa. Highlights include the Cape Town Regional Networking Event, the launch of the National Literacy Promotion Toolkit Initiative, upcoming member-exclusive learning opportunities, and inspiring examples of partnership-driven impact. Stay informed about the latest events, sector insights and opportunities to connect with the broader education ecosystem.

Cape Town Regional Networking Event: Strengthening Education Partnerships in the Western Cape

On 25 June 2026, NASCEE, in partnership with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Kagiso Trust, and EduInvest powered by Wesgro, hosted the Cape Town Regional Networking Event. Bringing together 104 education stakeholders for 4.5 hours of engagement, the event explored how stronger partnerships between government, NGOs, schools, and funders can better align resources, improve coordination, and address provincial education priorities. Discussions highlighted the importance of trust, transparency, shared accountability, and collaborative platforms such as NED Connect in building a more connected and impactful education ecosystem.

Building a Nation of Readers Together: The National Literacy Promotion Toolkit Initiative Launches

South Africa's National Literacy Promotion Toolkit Initiative, launched by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) under its Read to Lead Campaign, marks a significant step towards building a nation of readers. The initiative brings together government, education organisations, schools, families, and communities through District Reading Collectives to strengthen literacy outcomes through collaboration rather than isolated programmes. As the coordinator of civil society support, NASCEE is connecting literacy partners with implementation opportunities through NED Connect, making it easier for organisations to collaborate with districts and contribute their expertise. The initiative will be piloted in 12 priority districts before expanding nationally, creating a more coordinated and sustainable approach to literacy development across South Africa.

NASCEE's Salary Benchmarking Webinar

Aug 13, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 01:30 PM — Microsoft Teams,

What does the South African non-profit education sector actually pay? If you've ever wondered whether your organisation's salaries are aligned with the sector, this is your opportunity to find out. Join NASCEE's Salary Benchmarking Webinar as we present the findings from the first salary benchmarking survey for South Africa's non-profit education sector. All attendees will receive the full benchmark report. Facilitator: Giles Gillett, CEO of NASCEE Presenter: Esté Buchholz, Let Us Thrive

Tuesdays in the Trenches (TTT)

Jul 21, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM — Microsoft Teams,

Join NASCEE's Tuesdays in the Trenches (TTT) as we explore the vital role of parents and caregivers in education. Hear from Nelo Spies (Junior Achievement South Africa), Warren Farrer (DO MORE FOUNDATION), and Kimon Phitidis (PEP Foundation) as they share practical insights on strengthening partnerships with families, communities, and the education sector to improve learner outcomes. The interactive webinar includes a moderated discussion and live Q&A.

National Literacy Promotion Toolkit Launch

Jul 14, 2026 from 09:30 AM to 02:00 PM

NASCEE is proud to support the launch of the National Literacy Promotion Toolkit, an initiative led by the Department of Basic Education under the Read to Lead Campaign. The Toolkit introduces a collaborative approach to strengthening literacy through District Reading Collectives, bringing together government, civil society, schools, libraries and communities to build a stronger reading culture across South Africa.

NASCEE Round Up | Collaboration, Leadership and New Opportunities Across South Africa's Education Sector

This week's NASCEE Round Up celebrates the power of collaboration, featuring the NASCEE Leadership Forum Impact Report, insights from our latest Fundraising PLC Masterclass, the return of Tuesdays in the Trenches, the launch of the new Connect feature on NED Connect, and upcoming learning opportunities for the education sector.