Wits brings educators together to champion diversity and inclusive education
- Wits University
Educators from Wits’ partner schools gathered for the Diversity and Development Colloquium to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and champion inclusion.
Wits University recently hosted 58 educators from its top feeder schools for the Diversity and Development Colloquium, a gathering aimed at promoting inclusive education and strengthening partnerships between schools and higher education institutions.
The event fostered dialogue, collaboration, and shared learning around inclusion and equity in education.
This year’s theme, “Diversity and Development,” encouraged meaningful discussions around anti-discrimination practices, positive masculinities and equity in education spaces. The event was a collaborative effort between the Transformation and Employment Equity Office (TEEO), the Gender Equity Office (GEO), and the Schools Liaison Office (SLO), underscoring Wits’ ongoing commitment to transformation and social justice.
Speaking about the purpose of the event, Boikhutso Johnson, Student Liaison Officer at Wits, said the colloquium was born out of a shared vision to deepen collaboration with schools and promote inclusive education.
“We were inspired to host this colloquium to strengthen our partnerships with feeder schools and create a space where educators could discuss shared challenges,” said Johnson. “By engaging in open dialogue about discrimination and inclusion, we can explore real solutions together. This collaboration is key to shaping the kind of university and society we want to build.”
Professor Ruksana Osman, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, warmly welcomed the educators and reflected on her own journey as a teacher.
“Today is particularly special because I’m with people who know where I come from. As a former schoolteacher, I take great pride in welcoming educators who continue to shape the next generation. This colloquium is a celebration of collaboration, between schools and universities, between teachers and academics; in pursuit of equity and justice.
“In the complex world we live in, none of us can do what we do alone. Teachers deal with diversity every day in culture, language, and lived experience. At Wits, we believe that real transformation happens when we learn from each other.
“We are not just here to teach, we are here to learn. Our hope is that the insights from this colloquium will inform policy, inspire practice, and nurture an inclusive future for all learners, “ Osman said.
Educators in attendance described the event as both transformative and engaging.
Rose Mongatane, an Educator at Kaalfontein Secondary School, said the Diversity and Development Colloquium felt more like “a dynamic workshop than a traditional academic event.”
“While it was undoubtedly informative, what stood out most was the space it created for real, grounded dialogue. As teachers, we were not just passive recipients of information; we were active contributors, sharing the lived realities of our classrooms and challenging the assumptions often embedded in policy. It was empowering to voice the disconnect between what’s written on paper and what actually happens on the ground,” she said.
She added that she particularly valued the honest engagement around issues such as gender politics, bullying, and discrimination. “These are not abstract concepts, they are daily realities that affect both learners and teachers. This colloquium reminded me that we are not alone in these challenges. It affirmed that our experiences are shared, and more importantly, that institutions like Wits genuinely care, not just about the learners we teach, but about us as educators.”
Edgar Josias, Head of Department at Hyde Park High School, added, “I liked the case study discussions the most. They were very informative and helped us see the bigger picture, especially the legal implications of the everyday decisions we make as teachers. Our actions in the classroom extend beyond that space; they contribute to a much broader social impact.”
According to Johnson, one of the key outcomes of the colloquium is to enhance educators’ understanding of effective anti-discrimination practices while strengthening relationships between Wits and partner schools.
“This event also supports Wits’ goal of promoting inclusion and transformation,” she explained. “It aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4, Quality Education and the UNESCO Chair’s focus on equitable education and smoother transitions from school to university.”
Johnson added that hosting such events reaffirms Wits’ role as a national leader in diversity work. “We want educators to leave here knowing that Wits is serious about creating an environment where every student belongs and that their schools are key partners in that journey,” she said.
The colloquium reaffirmed Wits’ commitment to advancing inclusive, equitable, and socially just education, strengthening its partnerships with schools and inspiring collective action for positive change.