A total of 145 South African Sign Language (SASL) teachers participated in a three-day capacitation workshop aimed at strengthening the skills of Intermediate Phase (IP) SASL Home Language teachers ahead of the 2026 academic year. The workshop was held at the start of the new academic year from 7 to 9 January 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, OR Tambo International Airport.

Ms Vonani Mathonsi, Director, for Continuing Professional Teacher Development (CPTD), indicated that this initiative forms part of an integrated sectoral approach addressing key departmental priorities, underscoring the Department’s commitment to strengthening teaching and learning in SASL across the country. She described the programme as an intentional systemic game changer.

She further explained that the CPTD Directorate, in collaboration with the Curriculum, Inclusive Education, Assessment and Examinations, and Curriculum Innovation and E-Learning Directorates, has embarked on a strategic focus on SASL since 2024, covering the FET and Senior Phases, and now extending to the Intermediate Phase.

The programme focused primarily on the Intermediate Phase SASL CAPS, SASL as a Home Language, assessment practices, and sign language-specific methodology, including curriculum implementation and assessment components.

Attendance included an estimated five Subject Coordinators, 70 SASL teachers, and 70 Deaf Teaching Assistants, representing provinces across South Africa, reflecting the national reach and importance of the programme.

Looking ahead, similar capacitation workshops are planned for the Foundation Phase, ensuring continuity and strengthening SASL teaching across all phases of learning.

As part of the Department’s digital transformation strategy, the MST Directorate is in the process of modernising the legacy infrastructure of the Thutong Education Portal. Dr Neo Mothobi, Chief Education Specialist: EdTech within MST, Curriculum Innovation and E-Learning, explained that the initiative is centred on adopting a responsive, mobile-first design framework to achieve a device-agnostic architecture. This upgrade will enable both learners and teachers to access high-quality educational resources and digital tools, thereby removing a significant barrier to digital learning.