Zaahedah Vally is a qualitative researcher within the Research and Data Ecosystems Division at JET. Her role involves leading projects and initiatives that aim to improve education systems, with a focus on research and practical implementation.
"I am passionate about providing a high-quality education for all children and youth in South Africa, and Africa more broadly. When individuals are exposed to high-quality education, they are able to reach their full potential and pursue their goals," she shares.
Zaahedah's work spans across various areas of education. She works on several research projects involving the TVET sector, and microcredentials. She manages the Teacher Internship Collaboration South Africa (TICZA) project and has been involved in evaluations that JET has been commissioned to conduct. She was also part of the team working on a curriculum-strengthening process for the South African basic schooling sector.
Her efforts aim to address specific challenges in the education sector. "Various projects have different objectives, but with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) work, we are attempting to broaden the body of knowledge and research that exist in the field of lecturer professionalisation. With TICZA, we are aiming to institutionalise extended student-teacher internships in South Africa," she adds.
When asked about highlights in her career, Zaahedah emphasised the importance of connecting with people. She said: "My highlights are visiting various parts of the country and continent and being able to interact with locals on the ground. Visiting schools in remote Northern Cape or Limpopo and realising how much we still have to achieve to ensure quality education are what keep me motivated to continue in education research and implementation."
One of her recent projects, TICZA, has introduced innovative approaches to collaborative work in the education sector. "In the TICZA project, we are implementing an innovative framework called the collective impact model. It’s a new way of working by bringing together partners with an interest in improving initial teacher education, and each adds unique value to the collaboration. Partners provide invaluable insights into the project and benefit in various ways from being a part of the project."
Zaahedah's work has expanded across JET’s divisions. "For a project that ran out under the Innovation and Implementation Division last year, we used the collective impact model as a conceptual framing for the project, after noting the successes in using the framework with the TICZA project. We have also involved the Knowledge Management Division on TICZA to assist us with communication, advocacy, and managing social media accounts."
Zaahedah takes pride in being part of an organisation that invests in its people. "I am proud of the firm foundation that JET provides many young people and boosts their skills and confidence, which allows them to progress far in their careers. I started as an intern at JET myself and have grown to the role of researcher. JET is committed to investing in its people, as evidenced in the Investors in People nominations and awards. It makes me proud to be part of an organisation that invests in its staff, not only from a skills perspective but ensuring their wellness too."
Looking ahead, Zaahedah has contributed significantly to JET’s 2024–2026 strategy. "I was part of the working group that has been assisting with the new JET strategy, and I would like to believe that I have positively contributed to the process. I have also encouraged management to start thinking about 'culture add' instead of 'culture fit' to attract diverse skill sets and personalities to JET that can take the organisation to the next level."
Through her work and vision, Zaahedah Vally continues to be an integral part of JET's mission to transform education in South Africa and beyond.
