September 19
South Africa: South Africa Has a New Education Law - Some Love It, Some Hate It
South Africa has a new law governing education. The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act changes several aspects of how schools are managed. It was introduced to address… Read more »
September 12
Africa: Why Mpox in Africa Was Ignored for Too Long and Children Are Dying As a Result - Podcast
An epidemic of mpox in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is spreading quickly, particularly among young children. At least 20,000 people are known to be infected in… Read more »
September 11
South Africa: South Africa Is Failing Its Youngest Children - Report Flags Critical Gaps in Early Learning, Social Protection and Health Care
Nearly 10 years ago South Africa outlined its commitment to invest in the health and development of young children. Read more »
September 09
Kenya: Kenya's New Social Health Insurance Fund Wants to Improve Care for Mothers and Babies - but It Faces Challenges
Kenya has made strides in maternal and child health over the past decade. Read more »
August 30
Africa: Why Children Are At Such High Risk for Mpox
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that children, pregnant women and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk from the mpox outbreak in the Democratic… Read more »
August 28
South Africa: Starting a Business After University - Young South African Entrepreneurs Discuss the Highs and Lows
South Africa's youth unemployment rate, at 45.5% (among those aged between 15 and 34), is worryingly high, even in the context of widespread unemployment across the African… Read more »
Africa: Africa's 'Youthquake' - Huge Numbers of Young People Have No Jobs, the Wrong Skills and Little Hope
By 2050, one in every three young people on earth will be of African origin, according to the 2024 International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Global Employment Trends for Youth… Read more »
August 27
Africa: Children and the Internet - Helping Kids Navigate This Modern Minefield
The United States' most senior public health official, surgeon-general Vivek Murthy, believes social media platforms should come with warning labels. The United Nations' education,… Read more »
August 04
Tanzania: Young, Urban, African - Research Explores What It Means to Be a Good Citizen in Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania
Young people between the ages of 18 and 35 make up two-thirds of Africa's population. The number is expected to reach 75% by 2030. They live in an environment of rapid… Read more »
July 29
Africa: Even If They Aren't Sporty, All Kids Need to Throw and Catch. How Can You Help If Your Child Is Struggling?
Apart from literacy and numeracy, some of the most important skills children learn in their primary school years are throwing and catching. These are considered "fundamental… Read more »
July 23
Namibia: Not All Children Read At the Same Pace - Namibia Study Shows How Teachers Can Help Those Falling Behind
Reading is a powerful tool. It introduces children to new ideas. It shapes their academic journey and progress. It also equips them with skills to navigate the world, both at… Read more »
July 03
Africa: What Can You Do If You Think Your Teen Already Has Unhealthy Social Media Habits?
Many parents are worried about how much their children use social media and what content they might encounter while using it. Read more »
July 14
South Africa: How Old Are South African Fossils Like the Taung Child? New Study Offers an Answer
One hundred years ago the discovery of a skull in South Africa's North West province altered our understanding of human evolution. The juvenile skull was dubbed the Taung Child by… Read more »
July 11
South Africa: Thinking Aloud - What Happens When Children Read for Pleasure in Classroom Clubs
Every five years, the international Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) provides an assessment of how well grade 4 learners around the world read for meaning.… Read more »
June 13
Africa: The Key to Raising Secure Children - Why Parental Sensitivity Matters for Fathers and Mothers
Have you ever heard of children's attachment or attachment theory? If you are a parent, caregiver or an educator, chances are that it rings a bell. Children's attachment refers to… Read more »
June 30
Africa: We Research Online 'Misogynist Radicalisation'. Here's What Parents of Boys Should Know
Many parents are worried about their children using social media. But these concerns tend to focus on privacy, exposure to explicit material or contact with strangers. Read more »
June 26
Africa: Why Won't My Kids Listen to Me? A Psychologist Explains
Have you ever asked your child to do something simple but no matter how many times you ask, they keep ignoring you? Read more »
Kenya: Ruto Pulling the Finance Bill Is Unlikely to Satisfy Angry Young Protesters - Here's Why
In a move that shocked observers, Kenya's President William Ruto announced on 26 June he was withdrawing his government's highly controversial finance bill. This followed two days… Read more »
May 27
Africa: We Found Over 300 Million Young People Had Experienced Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Over the Course of Our Meta-Study
It takes a lot to shock Kelvin Lay. My friend and colleague was responsible for setting up Africa's first dedicated child exploitation and human trafficking units, and for many… Read more »
May 12
Malawi: Malawi's School Kids Are Using Tablets to Improve Their Reading and Maths Skills
Malawi introduced free primary education in 1994. This has significantly improved access to schooling. However, the country - which is one of the poorest in the world - still faces… Read more »
April 28
Africa: Talking to Teens About Sex - Advice for Parents On When, How, What to Say and Why It's So Important
The "birds and the bees". The "facts of life". Whatever you call it, many parents dread discussing sex and sexuality with their teenagers. They may be embarrassed, or worried that… Read more »
April 25
South Africa: South Africa's Youth Are a Generation Lost Under Democracy - Study
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa recently painted a rosy picture in which the country's youth - "democracy's children" - had enormous opportunities for advancement, all… Read more »
April 15
Africa: Our Research Suggests Eating an Unhealthy Breakfast Could Have a Similar Effect On Your Child's School Day As Having Nothing At All
Many parents know it is important for their teenagers to have breakfast before they go to school. Even though young people can be reluctant to eat it, breakfast provides the energy… Read more »
April 24
Africa: Sugar in Baby Food - Why Nestlé Needs to Be Held to Account in Africa
Nestlé has been criticised for adding sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries. The Swiss food giant controls 20% of the baby-food… Read more »
April 10
Africa: Young People Are Getting Unhappier - a Lack of Childhood Freedom and Independence May Be Partly to Blame
Experts often highlight social media and harsh economic times as key reasons why young people are getting unhappier. And while those factors are important, I would like to… Read more »