Researcher – Education Policy & School Safety

About the role

Equal Education is seeking a Junior Researcher to strengthen its evidence‑based advocacy on education funding, spatial justice and safety. The role focuses on monitoring education policy and analysing how legislation impacts learner mental health and school safety across South Africa.

Key responsibilities

• Monitor and analyse activities of the Department of Basic Education and national/provincial legislatures, tracking key policy developments.
• Track implementation of education policies, produce policy briefs, monitoring tools and popular education materials.
• Research and develop reports on school safety and psychosocial support systems, and share media insights with the team.
• Support submissions for parliamentary committees and collaborate with organising teams to integrate research into advocacy.
• Engage with stakeholders such as school staff, government officials and civil‑society partners, and present findings to internal members.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Politics, Sociology, Psychology, Social Work or a related field.
• 1–2 years of experience in policy research, civil‑society work or community‑based organisations.
• Knowledge of school safety, mental health and psychosocial support issues.
• Strong writing and research abilities, with a capacity to present findings in clear, accessible language.
• Passion for social justice and reducing educational inequalities.