At the annual Embrace symposium organized by St Benedict's College, a group of one hundred teachers from twenty-four South African schools gathered. The main objective of the meeting was to discuss whether classrooms create an atmosphere where every child feels like part of the community.
The symposium focused on youth-oriented education and explored how schools can integrate local knowledge, languages, identity, and indigenous knowledge systems into the modern learning process. This year's theme, 'Let us meet under the tree: using indigenous knowledge systems and pedagogy as pathways to social healing in education,' examined the contribution of traditional African wisdom, local customs, languages, and community-based learning to ensuring that children feel represented and supported at school.
Psychologist Eric Kabongo presented the concept of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) as worldviews and knowledge that exist outside textbooks and are transmitted through language, oral narratives, family structures, and communities. Schools from across South Africa discussed methods to move beyond symbolism to create daily learning environments where every student feels a sense of belonging.
The discussions prompted educators to consider whether schools create a space where children feel comfortable, and if transformation is more than just symbolic recognition on Heritage Day. Andre Oosthuizen, Executive Director of St Benedict's, spoke about the introduction of a policy allowing open hairstyles in the school, permitting boys to wear afros, dreadlocks, or ponytails as an expression of personal identity. This policy drew criticism from some parents and alumni concerned about discipline, although student behavior did not change.
Professor Connie McGabo from SANTS presented a vision of classrooms as emotionally safe spaces and criticized the colonial legacy associated with using English as the primary language of instruction and teaching. She called for more intensive language development, arguing that learning without healing is like 'watering a stone.' Lawyer and teacher Chris Harrison raised the issue of children losing their mother tongues when families opt out of African languages in favor of English. He warned that this could negatively affect children's cognitive development and strongly urged white South Africans to learn local languages.
High school history teacher Tebogo Maneli demanded the creation of learning environments that allow for complex conversations about race, identity, and belonging. She opposed the use of the phrase 'people of color,' arguing that it sets whiteness as the standard experience, and insisted on using terminology that directly acknowledges identities such as Black, White, Coloured, and Indian.
Event guests spent an evening networking and socializing at a cocktail party. Media personality and broadcaster Dan Corder shared his childhood experiences related to generalized AuDHD, social anxiety, and speech impediments, noting that his high school debate coaches and teachers provided him with support. He emphasized that empathetic educators who recognized his differences helped him gain confidence and contributed to his 15-year broadcasting career.
The symposium also included small group sessions where delegates from different schools shared ideas on how to apply the lessons learned in their institutions. The event demonstrated that transformation in education lies not only in symbolic recognition but also in creating a daily experience where every child feels accepted and can come to school as their authentic selves.
As the results of NEET UG 2026 are published, success stories are emerging. Among them is the story of Vaishnavi Das from Hyderabad, who scored 700 out of 720. Vaishnavi decided to distance herself from social media as early as 11th grade because she felt it distracted her from her studies.
She achieved an impressive result, scoring 700 out of 720, which placed her 20th in the national ranking across India. Vaishnavi inspired millions of students with her success. She emphasized that long-term study alone does not guarantee success; rather, achieving small daily goals helps one move forward.
To avoid any distractions during her studies, Vaishnavi consciously limited her use of social media starting in 11th grade. During the conversation, she noted that every student needs to identify what factors negatively affect their learning process.
When the results were announced, Vaishnavi was not at home but with her parents at a religious procession (Rath Yatra) visiting a temple. The results were revealed while they were passing by the temple in a car. She immediately checked her score, exclaimed loudly, and informed her parents. Then, she pulled the car over to the side of the road and burst into tears.
Vaishnavi shared that her dream of becoming a doctor arose in 8th grade. After that, she began preparing seriously for the medical entrance exam. She enrolled in the MPL Chaitanya program and continued to prepare regularly there until 12th grade.
Speaking about her preparation, she pointed out that mock tests played the biggest role. Initially, the number of tests was limited, but starting in December, she began taking a full mock test covering the entire syllabus daily. As the exam approached, she increased the frequency to two full mock tests daily.
Participants, winners, and representatives of the International Committee of the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO-2026) summarized the competition, which was held for the first time in Uzbekistan. Many expressed surprise at how Uzbekistan was presented on the international stage, noting the high level of the event.
About a thousand people gathered in Tashkent, the capital: schoolchildren, team leaders, members of international committees, and guests from 94 countries. For Central Asia, this event is historically significant as the International Chemistry Olympiad is being held here for the first time in 58 years.
Uzbekistan's Minister of Preschool and School Education, E'zozhon Karimova, reported that foreign experts were positively surprised by what they saw. She noted that representatives of the governing and scientific committees stated: 'We imagined Uzbekistan very differently.' According to her, the world saw that the country is known not only for sporting achievements and rich history but also for successes in science and education.
Karimova also mentioned that 2026 will be a special year for the country's education system, as Uzbekistan will host another major intellectual competition—the International Informatics Olympiad—in August.
Turaboy Shermatov, Director of the Center for Subject Olympiads of the Republic of Uzbekistan and member of the International Governing Committee of IChO, highly praised the organization, emphasizing that despite the first experience of holding the Olympiad in the country, it was organized at the highest level. He stated that international experts consider it one of the best Olympiads in the history of IChO.
Preparation for the event took over two years, during which Uzbek specialists collaborated with foreign experts, studying new methodologies and exchanging experiences. During the Olympiad, students solved three practical and nine theoretical problems, all of which were original and created specifically for IChO-2026. Thanks to modern scientific infrastructure, a laboratory tour for 400 participants could be conducted simultaneously.
Following the competition, 41 gold, 74 silver, and 112 bronze medals were awarded. Uzbekistan's team demonstrated one of the best results in its history, winning one gold and three silver awards.
The gold medal for the country was won by Tuumurodova Raykhona, a graduate of the Abu Ali ibn Sina school. She said that she initially expected only silver but achieved gold after three years of preparation and daily practice following the national selection. Raykhona also shared that the most stressful moment was the last hour of the theoretical round, which caused great anxiety.
International Olympiad winners are entitled to financial rewards: gold medalists receive over 1 billion soms, silver medalists receive over 600 million soms, and bronze medalists receive over 400 million soms. Rewards are also provided for mentors.
Foreign participants also left vivid impressions. Liran Zhu, the absolute winner from the USA, thanked the organizers and volunteers for Uzbekistan's hospitality, noting that he had a wonderful time. He reported that after participating in the Olympiad, he made the final decision to link his future with chemistry.
Lilli Gustavsson, a participant from Sweden, called the Olympiad a very difficult but valuable experience. She noted the beauty of the country and meeting people from all over the world, and also stated her plans to pursue scientific research in the field of chemistry in the future.
The success of Uzbek schoolchildren on the international stage demonstrates steady growth: if they won 12 medals in 2019, this figure reached 210 in 2025. In the first six months of 2026 alone, students have already received over 180 awards, and it is expected that this number will exceed 250 by the end of the year.
Organizers emphasize that the main result of the Olympiad is not just the number of medals, but that current participants will become creators of scientific discoveries, founders of startups, and employees of leading global laboratories in a few years, and their journey into science began in Tashkent in the summer of 2026.
The new pedagogical guidelines are scheduled to replace the thematic content that was initially established and posted in educational institutions.
