Ms Kara Mackay

KARA GRACE MACKAY

(M.Comm Economics, University of Stellenbosch)

Kara is currently a doctoral student in the Human Economy Programme at the University of Pretoria. She is registered at the Department of Education Management and Policy Studies. 

Kara’s research focus is grassroots education activism in post-apartheid South Africa. While the South African government committed itself to institutional, legislative and policy reform, it has not yet managed to eradicate the unequal system that it inherited from apartheid. Although this pervasive educational inequality is a central concern within the literature, a notable silence is the role that civil society plays in support of education transformation. Her study intends to address this gap by exploring and documenting the emergence of grassroots social movements working in the field of education.

Kara has worked with numerous reputable education research institutions. In 2012 she joined the Education Skills Development Unit at the Human Science Research Council. She has also worked with the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation at the University of Johannesburg. Kara’s passion for social justice can be seen in her commitment to activist-based organisations. Since 2003 she has worked within Imbawula Trust - a not-for-profit cultural trust that acts in the interests of hip-hop and street art.

Kara can be contacted on [email protected] or +27 82 627 89 34.

Publications:

Frempong, G., Reddy, V., and Mackay, K. (2013). Improving teaching and learning through the South African Annual National Assessment: Challenges, possibilities and solutions. Policy Brief. Human Science Research Council Press.