South Africa builds critical neurodiversity expertise as UJ students graduate
The University of Johannesburg’s Mpedi Family Scholarship for Neurodiversity Studies recently celebrated the graduation of three students who received their Masters’ qualifications. The graduation is an early outcome of the direct private-sector contribution focused specifically on the capacity shortage South Africa is currently facing, where there are few professionals trained to identify and support neurodivergent learners. As one of the key contributors to this scholarship, Fundi’s hope for the research produced by this cohort is that it will assist in closing this critical capacity gap.
Launched in March 2024 by UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi and his family to fund Master’s-level research in neurodiversity and inclusive education, the Mpedi Family Scholarship is housed within UJ’s Centre for Neurodiversity on the Soweto Campus. The Centre specialises in teacher training, educational and psychological interventions, family and community engagement to support neurodivergence.
“This is an important scholarship that helps South Africa to be at the forefront of knowledge creation in the field of neurodiversity – making the recent graduation extremely significant,” says Mala Suriah, CEO of Fundi.
Graduates Nonhlanhla Zulu, John Mazibuko and Portia Mbuli are part of the second cohort of the Mpedi Family Scholarship, and the first group of scholars supported by Fundi. Their three dissertations address practical constraints within our current schooling system and will go a long way in informing and supporting the necessary responses. While Zulu examined teachers’ experiences of teaching learners with dyslexia at a remedial school in Alberton, Mazibuko (a serving primary school principal) investigated collaboration between teachers and parents in supporting learners showing symptoms of dyslexia. Mbuli’s study assessed teachers’ attitudes towards learners with disabilities in full-service township schools.
“In all instances, critical recommendations were made to improve current interventions and strengthen support – positively impacting the futures of the children; their teachers and caregivers. This makes the research invaluable in terms of building capacity within the education sector; which was the intention behind Fundi’s contribution,” adds Suriah.
“Neurodivergent learners are routinely misread in South African classrooms, not through any lack of care, but because the specialist expertise required to recognise and respond to their needs is scarce. Building that expertise is a long-term investment and it needs long-term partners,” explains Professor Mpedi, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg, who established the scholarship after his family set out to increase the number of professionals working in the field.
Professor Mpedi notes that the graduates return directly into the system that trained them: “Each of these scholars will influence teaching practice well beyond their own classrooms. One is a school principal, another intends to move into educational psychology and a third is continuing to doctoral level. That is the kind of compounding outcome we look for when we allocate investment of this nature – which makes it a very meaningful return for our sponsors, including Fundi.”
The scholarship forms part of a wider effort by UJ to establish South Africa as a contributor to global neurodiversity research, with applications for the next cohort open through the university’s Faculty of Education.
“Fundi’s business is education finance and our purpose is to help others realise their purpose. That purpose is not served if a learner’s difficulty is never correctly identified in the first place,” says Suriah. “We wish both the graduates and the Centre continued success as they work to act on the research findings, changing the lives and futures of neurodivergent children, adults and their families.”
