A strong relationship between science and the public plays a crucial role in keeping people informed about how science and technology can address developmental challenges. It also fosters democratic engagement, enhances quality of life and well-being, sparks interest in science-related fields and careers, encourages investment in research and devel ...

A SAPRS Reflection Conference is being held today and tomorrow, the 26-27th March 2025, with participants from key sectors of society, including STI-inclined government departments, business, labour, academia, civil society, youth, faith-based, and science councils, among others.

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has been tasked with conducting a dedicated South African Public Relationship with Science (SAPRS) survey every five years. The purpose of the survey is to monitor the state of the public relationship with science as well as the patterns and tendencies relating to time periods and comparisons with other co ...

This report presents highlights of 2023 TIMSS results released by IEA. The information was drawn from results provided by the IEA and adapted to the South African context. Thus, this report only includes selected findings that have been made available by the IEA. A more detailed national report will be produced by the Department of Basic Educati ...

In 2022, the first national survey provided a basis for developing informed strategies to enhance the connection between science and society. The survey will be conducted every five years, with the next one planned for 2027.

This Highlights report is based on the full report: Department of Science and Innovation (2024) The South African Public Relationship with Science: 2022 Survey Results. Prepared by the Human Sciences Research Council for the Department of Science and Innovation. Pretoria: HSRC The South African Public Relationship with Science (SAPRS): 2022 Sur ...

In the context of high income inequality in South Africa, personal conditions such as where one lives and learns influence educational outcomes. The socioeconomic status (SES) of the home and the activities conducted in the home are key determinants of educational achievement. Furthermore, the early learning environment and experiences of children ...

Ideally, achievement outcomes should only reflect differences in learners’ abilities and effort. However, in most educational systems, outcomes or achievement gaps are also associated with individual and contextual factors such as race, gender, socioeconomic status of the home and school, and geographic location. In this newsletter we illustrate ...

Ideally, achievement outcomes should only reflect differences in learners’ abilities and effort. However, in most educational systems, the outcomes or achievement gaps are also associated with characteristics such as race, gender, socioeconomic status of the home and school, and geographic location. In this newsletter we illustrate the inequal ...

The HSRC called for proposals for the secondary analysis of TIMSS South African data to produce an academic working paper. Aspirant authors attended a series of TIMSS data analysis workshops to support their writing and the working papers were externally reviewed. The six papers in this newsletter are the outcome of this process. The Working Paper ...