Education has from the beginning been given a high priority. The Academy encourages the teaching and use of effective English at all levels of education. The following activities reflect this.

Gwen Knowles-Williams Bursary

A bequest from our first president funds a bursary, given periodically on recommendation to a teacher of English to assist with the improvement of his or her qualifications. Recent recipients include students at the Universities of the Free State, Limpopo, Venda and Zululand.

Prize for De Beers English Olympiad

The Academy has for many years supported the schools English Olympiad, a project of the Grahamstown Foundation and the South African Council for English Education, by presenting a substantial prize to one of the top ten winners.

Norah Taylor Floating Trophy

The Academy presents the trophy annually to the top school in both the English Olympiad and the Creative Writing Competition of the South African Council for English Education.

Language in Education

The Academy monitors the situation in schools and higher education. As well as direct representations to the authorities, members of the Academy serve on various bodies that are involved in the development of language policies in education. To read a document on language policy that was partly co-authored by Academy members, please click here for transfer to our “Language Policies” section.

Advice on Usage

The Academy has published Guidelines on Terms and Punctuation. Copies are available for a small fee from our administrative office (telephone 011.717-9338).

In addition, it has a widespread network of voluntary language counsellors. Please click here to transfer to our “Language Advisory Service” section, which defines the scope of the free service offered and lists the contact particulars.