department of basic educationlatest news & developments
Culpable homicide: The Quantum was allegedly attempting to overtake four vehicles when it collided head-on with an oncoming truck. Twelve learners were killed. Photo: Timothy Bernard/Independent Newspapers

Deadly Vaal ride to school

No single institution carries end to end accountability for ensuring a child’s journey to school is safe, leading to lethal consequences

  • Eyaaz
8 min read
Ayanda Dludla was the driver of the minibus that was involved an an accident and led to the death of 14 children.

Driver in fatal Vanderbijlpark crash charged with murder

Twenty-two year-old Ayanda Dludla also faces three counts of attempted murder, as well as charges of driving without a valid professional permit and operating an unlicensed vehicle

  • Eyaaz
2 min read
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube.

Siviwe Gwarube: Basic Education

SCORE: C Under Gwarube, the department has seen some real and visible gains this year:  record matric pass rates, a renewed strategic focus on early childhood and foundational learning, progress on sanitation and safety and stronger national oversight on finances. The implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, which Gwarube’s Democratic Alliance party is […]

  • Eyaaz
1 min read
Children learn through play at the Little Red Dragon preschool, run by the Lebone Centre in Makhanda. Play helps children ‘read’ their world and tell their stories, a vital step in their literacy development. Photos: Debbie Smuts

Preschoolers falling through the cracks

SA spends just 1.8% of its education budget on ECD: the damage shows

  • Eyaaz
8 min read
Aced it: The winning Grahamstown Adventist Primary School team at the Phendulani Literary Quiz. Photo: Nozipho Maphalala

Give children high-quality books from Grades R-12: they will likely read them

Research shows that classroom libraries increase reading frequency by 70% compared with centralised libraries

  • Eyaaz
7 min read

Dove, Department of Basic Education and DBSA Empower South African girls with #ChangeTheCompliment campaign for International Day of the Girl Child

Dove, the Department of Basic Education (DBE), and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) united to empower girls across South Africa, marking International Day of the Girl Child 2025 with the #ChangeTheCompliment campaign. As part of Dove’s Self-Esteem Project (DSEP) – which has reached over 137 million young people in 153 countries – this […]

  • Shaun Goosen
4 min read
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

Service providers challenge Gauteng premier over missing tender records in R9bn school feeding scheme

In their letter to Panyaza Lesufi, service providers outline serious irregularities in the National School Nutrition Programme tender process

  • Umamah Bakharia
5 min read
The increase in learners is exacerbated by people relocating to Gauteng, and private-public partnerships are required to address overcrowding. File photo

Gauteng needs 200 more schools, says education MEC Chiloane

During the 2023-24 financial year, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape only built one school each

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read
With youth month around the corner, education support networks have raised the alarm on the persistent underperformance and marginalisation of boys in the education system. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Calls grow to address marginalisation of boys in education system

In 2022, the out-of-school rate was 10.54% for boys, compared with 8.17% for girls

  • Umamah Bakharia
5 min read
Basic education minister, Siviwe Gwarube. (Lefty Shivambu/Gallo)

Equal Education slams Gwarube over claim that 90% of schools now in a better condition

According to the department of basic education, 93% of 3 372 pit latrines have been replaced with appropriate sanitation facilities

  • Umamah Bakharia
4 min read
The South African Democratic Teachers Union alleges schools are pressuring learners in grade 10 and upwards to drop maths to protect overall matric pass rates

Unions slam basic education department over no maths at 464 schools

The South African Democratic Teachers Union alleges schools are pressuring learners in grade 10 and upwards to drop maths to protect overall matric pass rates

  • Umamah Bakharia
5 min read
The data from research centre Intelpoint suggests the majority of the population aged 15 years and older possesses basic reading and writing skills.

South Africa has second highest rate of literate adults in Africa

But this starkly contrasts with the literacy problems faced by the younger population, particularly in the early primary grades

  • Umamah Bakharia
4 min read
An organisation says the devices reduce children’s ability to concentrate and learn effectively. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Push for phone-free schools

An organisation says the devices reduce children’s ability to concentrate and learn effectively

  • Umamah Bakharia
4 min read
Service providers have taken the Gauteng education department to court to halt the appointment of 49 new contractors, claiming that some companies have been deregistered, while others are not tax-compliant or are even non-existent. (Photo by Sharon Seretlo/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

Gauteng school nutrition tender faces legal battle over alleged corruption 

Service providers have taken the Gauteng education department to court to halt the appointment of 49 new contractors, claiming that some companies have been deregistered, while others are not tax-compliant or are even non-existent.

  • Umamah Bakharia
5 min read
In 2023, Sadtu’s Eastern Cape branch raised the alarm on school safety after three educators — including a school principal — were gunned down in the Lusikisiki area. (File photo)

Half of SA teachers want out because of violence, exhaustion

Fifty percent of the country’s teachers may leave the profession in 10 years, threatening education quality and rural staffing

  • Umamah Bakharia
4 min read
(John McCann/M&G)

Doubts over successful implementation of mother-tongue school  instruction programme

The department of basic education has rolled out the programme for grade four learners in maths, science and technology

  • Umamah Bakharia
5 min read
(John McCann/M&G)

Gauteng education department taken to court over special needs learners

Pupils at Filadelfia Secondary School have reported neglect and sexual harassment, but the provincial department has failed to intervene

  • Umamah Bakharia
5 min read
The Western Cape education department says it has filled 477 teacher posts despite announcing last year that 2 407 contract teachers would not be reappointed as a result of severe budget cuts.(Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Thuli Dlamini)

Western Cape fills 477 teacher posts after cutting 2 407 contract positions last year

The department says the reduction in teaching posts has increased the projected average teacher-to-learner ratio from 1:34.2 in 2024 to 1:36.7 this year

  • Umamah Bakharia
3 min read
A record 98.31% of Grade 12 learners passed the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations administered by the Independent Examinations Board

‘Good’ matric results do not tell the whole picture of SA education

While education authorities celebrate the 87.3% pass rate for 2024, only 50% of pupils made it from grade 1 to grade 12. And young people also struggle to get jobs regardless of whether they matriculate or not.

  • Eyaaz
5 min read
Quality assurer Umalusi said it found no discrepancies during its evaluation of the 2024 NSC examinations

Matric assessment institute refutes claims it has unfairly failed learners

Quality assurer Umalusi said it found no discrepancies during its evaluation of the 2024 NSC examinations

  • Umamah Bakharia
4 min read