By Johnathan Paoli
As the 2025 academic year begins, schools across the country have reopened their doors to millions of learners embarking on the next chapter of their educational journey.
While the first day of school brings excitement, heart-warming moments and new beginnings, it also highlights systemic challenges in the education sector.
From Braamfischerville Primary School in Soweto, Gauteng to Dr. BW Vilakazi Primary in KwaZulu-Natal, learners and parents shared emotional moments as Grade 1 learners were ushered into classrooms.
Hugs, kisses and tears marked the occasion as parents captured this special milestone with photos.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, who spent the day in the Eastern Cape and visited Khewzilesizwe Primary School, expressed her department’s commitment to facilitating a successful academic journey for learners in the year ahead.
“The message is to say we wish you well for the 2025 academic year. We want to say that we are here every step of the way. Ours is to make sure that the environment is conducive for learning and teaching,” the minister said.
Gwarube, alongside education MEC Fundile Gade, monitored schools to ensure readiness for the academic year, greeting children in Grade R and taking time to interact with them and observe their learning environment.
The minister and Gade also went to Healdtown High School, which was attended by notable figures like Nelson Mandela and Robert Sobukwe, addressing the matric class of 2025 and inspecting the R100 million school upgrade project.
Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule visited secondary schools in Mpumalanga to oversee operations, while Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane addressed infrastructure concerns and learner placement backlogs.
During her address, Mhaule stressed the essential values of self-respect among learners, highlighting the importance of respecting their parents and teachers as well.
Chiloane along with other provincial officials opened the state-of-the-art Braamfischerville Primary School with a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony ahead of the first day of school.
Despite the optimism, parents remain concerned about securing placements for their children, with thousands of learners across the country still waiting to find a spot.
In the Western Cape, over 2,600 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners were yet to be placed as of school opening day.
The Western Cape education department maintained said it was actively attempting to address the issue, in light of an increase in late applications.
“As of January, we have allocated places for 118,914, or 98%, of the learners for whom applications were received for Grades 1 and 8 for the 2025 school year by December last year. Placement is in progress for 2,478, or 2%, of Grade 1 and 8 learners. However, since the start of the year, new extremely late applications have been received for over 300 Grade 1 and 8 learners for the current school year,” the department said.
Gauteng has yet to disclose the number of unplaced learners, but long queues formed at district offices as parents sought assistance.
Complaints about school allocations, fees and distances from home highlighted frustrations with the current placement system across the country.
Meanwhile, the impact of budget cuts weigh heavily on expectations of the academic year ahead.
The department has warned of severe budget pressures across provinces, amounting to between R78bn to R118bn, which will lead to significant cutbacks in critical areas, including fewer teachers, reduced textbook availability, and inadequate administrative support, which may disrupt teaching and learning processes.
The recruitment and retention of teachers are at risk, raising concerns over overcrowded and under-resourced classrooms.
Some regional departments have already indicated they may cut funding to essential programmes like scholar transport and nutrition in order to preserve teaching posts.
However, the department remains committed to mitigating these challenges, advocating for increased investment and measures to safeguard vulnerable schools, particularly in rural and poverty-stricken areas.
Despite worries, Gwarube reiterated the government’s dedication to supporting schools and learners, despite the challenges the country’s education sector is facing in the days ahead.
INSIDE EDUCATION
