Inside Education covers the latest news, analysis and developments across South Africa's education sector. From higher education policy to classroom innovation, we bring educators, students and parents the stories that matter most.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has invited applications from suitably qualified candidates to serve on the selection panel for the DSAC Publishing Hub.
The hub, run in partnership with the Academic and Non-Fiction Authors’ Association of South Africa (ANFASA), is an industry stimulus project aimed at supporting authors and strengthening the country’s books and publishing sector.
According to the department, the initiative is intended to support new writing, preserve South Africa’s heritage and promote literature in previously marginalised official languages.
“We encourage the creation of new literature in telling our stories and preserving our heritage, and sustain the creation of significant literature including that written in the previously marginalised official languages,” the department said.
The Publishing Hub was launched in July 2023. ANFASA said the project had produced 57 works to date, consisting of 43 physical books, eight audiobooks and six books converted to braille.
“Notably, four Khoi and San books written in Khwedam, !Xuhnthali, and Nama were published to further emphasising the importance of linguistic and cultural preservation,” the association said.
“Through literature, we can further commemorate this milestone and continue to shape narratives that reflect the spirit of our nation.”
The department said selection panel members must have strong knowledge, experience and expertise in the book value chain. Candidates should also be language experts, have a solid understanding of the book industry and be published authors.
Panel members will be responsible for reviewing manuscripts, making recommendations, working with successful authors on developmental editing, and advising on industry issues including intellectual property, contracts and royalties.
The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has criticised the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) over governance failures, irregular expenditure, and the approval of a R3 million salary package for its administrator without authorisation from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) or the minister.
The committee received a briefing from CETA on protected disclosure allegations relating to irregularities at the entity, including the extension of a Vodacom internet and intranet services contract beyond its expiry date.
The allegations were initially raised by suspended Chief Financial Officer Saneler Radebe in a disclosure to the National Treasury. According to Radebe, CETA’s 2021 contract with Vodacom for internet and intranet services was flagged by the Auditor-General and later subjected to investigation.
He alleged that the contract was extended beyond its April 2024 expiry date based on unverified claims that Vodacom owed CETA service credits, despite repeated requests from finance officials for supporting documentation.
Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie criticised CETA administrator Oupa Nkoane for unilaterally approving his own salary package of R3 million without obtaining approval from either the department or the minister.
Members of the committee questioned the lack of clear regulations governing salaries paid to administrators and advisors appointed to stabilise struggling entities. They also requested that DHET explain the rationale behind the more annual remuneration package awarded to Nkoane.
The committee noted that while CETA was under administration, the entity approved a proposal granting the administrator a provisional annual salary of R3 million with effect from 1 October 2025. In January 2026, the minister later approved a reduced remuneration package of R2.5 million.
Parliament heard that between October 2025 and March 2026, the administrator was overpaid by R208 333. A repayment plan has since been implemented to recover the funds over the remainder of his term.
Committee members said the payments made before ministerial approval constituted irregular expenditure. However, they also blamed the DHET for contributing to the situation through delays in responding to correspondence regarding the salary adjustment.
According to the department, the administrator’s remuneration was benchmarked against both the salary earned by the incumbent in his previous employment and the remuneration levels of SETA chief executive officers. DHET further indicated that guidance on the matter had been sought from the National Treasury.
The committee further questioned CETA’s management of ICT contracts, particularly the continuation of the Vodacom agreement after its expiry date.
Members also expressed concern over delays in implementing recommendations contained in the R18.9 million Duja forensic report, saying the failure to act had allowed implicated officials to remain in, or be reappointed to, positions within DHET entities.
The committee also learned that one of the administrator’s advisors, Lethabo Mamabolo, travelled to Cape Town on 21 November 2025 to participate in a cycling event using CETA resources.
Letsie said the department continued to spend significant amounts on forensic investigations without ensuring that findings led to accountability.
“Your core business is to skill and upskill the workforce of South Africa. In the context of the latest unemployment statistics, SETAs were created to help drive economic growth; this is not happening,” he said.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has called for stronger education systems across Africa, saying technology and artificial intelligence cannot replace basic literacy and numeracy skills.
Speaking at the Education World Forum 2026 in London, Gwarube highlighted South Africa’s efforts to strengthen foundational learning and expand Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes.
“South Africa is investing R10 billion over three years to expand Early Childhood Development, and a further R496 million to create 115 000 ECD spaces in three of our most rural provinces of Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. These investments signify our commitment to children whose futures should not be determined by the circumstances of their birth,” she said.
“As a country we can be proud of the strategic shift we have made towards strengthening the foundations of learning.”
The R496 million allocation is linked to an outcomes-based early childhood development fund aimed at expanding access to early learning in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
The Education World Forum is being held in London from 17 to 20 May under the theme “Educating for a Shared Future: Peace, Planet, Purpose and Pathways”. The forum brings together education ministers, policymakers and education sector leaders to discuss the future of global education systems.
Gwarube said South Africa had made a strategic shift towards prioritising foundational learning for the country’s 13.7 million learners.
“Strong futures require strong foundations,” she said.
She said the issue was particularly important for Africa, which has the youngest population in the world, making education critical to turning demographic growth into economic opportunity.
“If Africa is to rise, Africa’s children must rise first,” she said.
Referring to South Africa’s literacy crisis, Gwarube said about eight in 10 children could not read for meaning by the age of 10.
She described this as more than a literacy challenge, calling it a “future-readiness crisis” that affected learners’ ability to succeed in gateway subjects such as Mathematics, Science and Technology.
“When a child cannot read for meaning, every subject becomes difficult and opportunities become limited,” she said.
While many countries were discussing artificial intelligence, automation and the future digital economy, Gwarube said governments had to recognise that meaningful innovation could not happen without strong educational foundations.
“No country can build a high-tech economy on weak educational foundations,” she said.
“No country can leapfrog literacy, and no country can automate its way around numeracy.”
Gwarube said the future economy would require children who could think critically, solve problems, adapt and create, rather than learners who only knew how to operate technology.
She posed what she described as an urgent question for learners facing the future: “Will I be able to read well enough to participate in that future at all?”
South Africa’s under-17 national team, the Amajimbos, suffered a setback in their bid for automatic qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup after going down 2-0 to Algeria in their second Group D match at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Playing at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Sale on Sunday, the Amajimbos were undone by a clinical display from Algerian forward Yacine Abed, who scored to hand the North Africans a crucial victory in what is widely regarded as the tournament’s toughest group.
The 16-year-old, who plays for Paradou Athletic Club’s academy side, opened the scoring in the 41st minute before sealing the result five minutes from full-time.
Abed was later named Man of the Match after another influential performance for the hosts.
The result saw South Africa surrender top spot in Group D after beginning the tournament with a morale-boosting 2-1 comeback victory over Senegal last week.
Algeria moved ahead of Amajimbos in the standings, while Senegal revived their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Ghana.
After two rounds of matches, Ghana remain without a win and face a difficult task heading into the final group fixtures.
The top two teams in each group qualify automatically for the quarterfinals and secure places at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, scheduled to take place in Qatar in November.
Third-placed teams will still have an opportunity to qualify through additional playoffs.
South Africa, however, will be determined to avoid that route and instead clinch automatic qualification when they face Ghana in their final group match on Wednesday.
A victory against the West Africans would likely be enough to book Amajimbos a place at the World Cup, replicating the achievement of South Africa’s under-17 side last year.
The defeat follows the Amajimbos’ opening win against defending champions Senegal.
In that match, South Africa showed resilience after falling behind shortly before halftime.
Senegal had taken the lead through Cheikh Thior in the 44th minute, but Amajimbos responded strongly after the break.
Inganathi Simama equalised three minutes into the second half following an assist from Aphelele Majola before a long-range strike from Reotshepile Malete deflected into the net off Thior to complete the comeback victory.
Speaking before the match, coach Vela Khumalo expressed concern over the team’s performance but maintained confidence regarding the its development.
He said that the team’s performances were still developing as the tournament progressed.
“We will grow with the tournament. Our target is qualifying for the World Cup, and we are very close to doing that,” Khumalo said.
The North Africans had also shown fighting spirit in their opening fixture after recovering from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 against Ghana.
Abed had played a central role in that comeback as well, providing an assist for Melwane Zaidi’s equaliser after Algeria trailed 2-0 at halftime.
Nearly 9 000 learners across South Africa will receive essential stationery packs after R1 million was raised through the Checkers Act For Change Back-to-School project in partnership with non-profit organisation Meals on Wheels.
The organisation announced on Monday that the fundraising initiative will help provide learners with school supplies, especially in low-income schools.
This includes pens, exercise books, calculators and other classroom essentials.
Meals on Wheels said it is working closely with schools and communities nationwide to ensure the stationery reaches learners and schools most in need.
“We see first-hand the challenges families face every day. Through our network, we’re able to help ensure these supplies reach learners in communities that are often overlooked,” said Gershon Naidoo, the national programmes and marketing director of Meals on Wheels.
The campaign was launched at the start of this year’s academic calendar.
According to the organisation, funds were raised through the sale of a limited-edition Act For Change exam pad, sold in Checkers stores and on the Checkers Sixty60 app, with R2 from every purchase going directly towards the stationery fund.
Customers also contributed by donating R5 at till points in stores nationwide.
Several leading stationery brands supported the initiative by contributing a portion of proceeds from selected products.
These included Pritt, Bostik, Henkel, Staedtler, Penflex, Bic, Butterfly, Casio, KV Art, Freedom Stationery, Bidvest, Palm Stationery, CTP Stationery, Sappi and Plastafrica.
Naidoo said access to basic school supplies can significantly improve a learner’s ability to participate confidently in class and focus on their education.
He said the overwhelming support for the campaign demonstrated how small contributions can collectively create meaningful change.
“Ensuring learners have the basic tools they need allows them to focus on learning and engage more fully in the classroom,” chief sustainability officer at the Shoprite Group, Sanjeev Raghubir said.
Gauteng recorded 69 125 new hypertension cases in the 2025/26 financial year, including 26 088 among adults aged 18 to 44, as health authorities warned that high blood pressure was increasingly affecting younger residents.
The figures were released by the Gauteng Department of Health in a statement issued on Sunday to mark World Hypertension Day, observed annually on 17 May.
“The Gauteng Department of Health has noted with concern the increasing number of adults under the age of 45 diagnosed with hypertension across the province,” the department said.
“During the 2025/26 financial year, from April 2025 to March 2026, Gauteng recorded 69 125 new hypertension cases across the province. Of these, 26 088 cases were recorded among adults aged between 18 and 44. Contributing factors include unhealthy eating habits, obesity, lack of physical exercise, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.”
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often described as a “silent killer” because many people do not experience symptoms until serious complications develop.
“Hypertension, commonly known as the ‘silent killer’, often develops without noticeable symptoms and remains one of the leading contributors to stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and premature death,” the department said.
The department said routine screening remained critical, especially because many residents may not know their blood pressure status.
“As hypertension frequently presents without symptoms, routine screening remains essential. In a bid to strengthen early detection and prevention efforts, the Department screened approximately 8.7 million adults for hypertension across Gauteng during the 2025/26 financial year.”
Public healthcare facilities in the province provide free blood pressure checks and chronic disease management services for people diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes and related conditions.
“In addition, public healthcare facilities provide free blood pressure screening and integrated chronic disease management services for individuals diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes and related conditions,” the department said.
The department said its ward-based outreach teams and community health workers would continue providing health education, promoting healthier lifestyles and encouraging residents to undergo free blood pressure screening at public healthcare facilities and during community outreach activities.
“To reduce the risk of hypertension, residents are encouraged to exercise regularly, reduce salt intake, stop smoking and limit alcohol consumption. Individuals diagnosed with hypertension are advised to take their medication as prescribed by healthcare professionals and adhere to treatment plans to effectively manage the condition.”
Residents on chronic medication were also encouraged to register for the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution Programme, which allows patients to collect medication closer to their homes and reduce waiting times at healthcare facilities.
“Residents can also make use of the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution Programme to collect chronic medication closer to their homes and reduce waiting times at healthcare facilities. Visit your nearest clinic to register on the CCMDD system.”
The World Health Organisation said the 2026 World Hypertension Day theme was “Controlling Hypertension Together: check your blood pressure regularly, defeat the silent killer”. It said the day was aimed at raising global awareness about high blood pressure and promoting prevention, detection and control.
The WHO’s Regional Office for Africa said hypertension was rising rapidly across the region, driven by urbanisation, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol and tobacco. It said the trend posed a growing threat to health, well-being and sustainable development.
Globally, WHO estimates that 1.4 billion adults aged 30 to 79 had hypertension in 2024, while about 600 million adults with hypertension were unaware they had the condition. It also estimated that only about 320 million adults with hypertension had it under control.
Dr Myuri Parusnath has earned a PhD in Biology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal for research into plant-based bioactive compounds in Solanum mauritianum, commonly known as bugweed.
Her study, titled “Secretory, Phytochemical and Biological Activities of Solanum mauritianum Scop. (Solanaceae),” examined the chemical and biological properties of the plant, which is classified as an invasive species in South Africa.
Parusnath said plants that thrive across diverse environments often develop complex chemical defence systems, some of which may have medicinal value.
“In this study, I investigated the microscopic structures of the plant, analysed its chemical composition and evaluated several biological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic properties,” Parusnath said.
“The aim was to explore whether this plant could serve as a potential source of natural bioactive compounds.”
She said the research was particularly relevant given the growing problem of antibiotic resistance and the need to explore alternative therapeutic options.
“In many parts of the world, medicinal plants remain an important component of healthcare, and scientific studies such as this help validate and expand our understanding of their potential applications,” she said.
Parusnath’s interest in the field was rooted in a longstanding curiosity about science and the natural world.
“Always fascinated by how biological systems function and how research can uncover new insights, the possibility of exploring plants as sources of biologically active compounds and contributing to discoveries that might one day support therapeutic development strongly motivated her work,” UKZN said.
The research adds to the growing body of knowledge about plant-derived compounds and their potential value.
“By examining the chemical composition and biological activity of Solanum mauritianum, my research helps build a scientific foundation that future studies can expand upon, particularly in the search for plant-based therapeutic agents,” Parusnath said.
Parusnath remains actively involved in academic life and student development.
She serves as a First-Year Experience Coordinator in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science and works as a part-time lecturer in Biology in the School of Agriculture and Science.
“Long-term she aspires to build a career in academia and research while mentoring and supporting future generations of students,” UKZN said.
“Parusnath credited several people who helped her reach this milestone including her supervisor, Professor Yougasphree Naidoo, and co-supervisor, Professor Moganavelli Singh, who mentored and guided both her master’s and doctoral studies.”
Parusnath also expressed gratitude to her parents, brother and friends for their support during her studies.
She emphasised the importance of maintaining balance. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the gym, exploring creative interests such as makeup, and spending time with friends and family.
Reflecting on the broader significance of her achievement, Parusnath said she hoped her journey would inspire others, particularly young women considering careers in science.
“Doctoral graduates represent a small proportion of the global population, and women remain underrepresented in many scientific fields,” she said.
“Through my work and example, I hope to encourage more women to pursue paths in science, research and higher education.”
Imbali resident Thobeka Dumakude has graduated from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) with a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Nursing at the age of 54.
“I wanted to prove to myself and to others that dreams do not expire. Education has no age limit. It took me six years instead of four years to complete my qualification,” she said.
“It was hard adapting to the academic environment. I found myself studying alongside students younger than my own children, but I never gave up. I was determined to finish what I had started,” she said.
The university praised Dumakude’s determination, resilience and perseverance, saying these qualities had enabled her to realise her lifelong ambition of serving communities through healthcare.
Dumakude’s childhood dream of becoming a nurse was put on hold after she became pregnant at the age of 19. She later had to find employment and care for her child.
“Prior to studying at DUT, Thobeka worked as an administrator for a non-governmental organisation that assisted patients living with HIV and AIDS,” the university said.
“This was where her love for nursing resurfaced after her five-year work contract ended and her internet café business was not making enough profit.”
Dumakude enrolled at DUT in 2020, more than 30 years after completing matric. The university said she had to balance family responsibilities, academic pressure and the challenge of adapting to student life alongside much younger classmates.
Her four-year qualification eventually took six years to complete as she worked through difficulties in her studies.
Dumakude is currently completing her community service in a psychiatric ward at Jubilee District Hospital in Hammanskraal.
Her duties include caring for mental healthcare patients, participating in multidisciplinary teamwork, administering treatment, monitoring patients, and supporting patients and families through mental health challenges.
“She plans to study further, specialising in Mental Health Nursing after realising there is a great need for mental health support in society,” the university said.
Dumakude said her future goal is to work alongside other healthcare professionals to address mental health issues in communities and contribute positively to people’s wellbeing.
“Graduating was one of the proudest moments of my life,” she said.
“Walking across the graduation stage made me feel confident, empowered, and fulfilled, knowing that I had achieved something no one can ever take away from me.”
Dumakude encouraged people who believe it is too late to pursue their academic dreams not to give up on education.
She said her graduation showed that perseverance, prayer, courage and lifelong learning could open doors at any stage of life.
A wave of militant attacks on schools in Nigeria over the past week has left more than 80 children missing, local officials and a rights group said Sunday, the latest in school abductions in the West African country where the government is battling an array of jihadi and other armed groups.
The attackers targeted a primary school in the conflict-battered state of Borno, in Nigeria’s northeastern corner, sometime between Wednesday and Thursday. The militants abducted 42 children there, in the Askira Uba and Chibok areas.
Amnesty International said that attack took place in the village of Mussa near Sambisa Forest, a stronghold of militants from Boko Haram and its splinter group, an Islamic State affiliate known as the Islamic State West Africa Province.
Across the country, two secondary schools in the southwestern Oyo state were attacked hours apart on Friday, and at least 40 children were abducted there, according to Amnesty’s Nigeria branch. Such abductions are rare in this particular area.
The rights group warned on Sunday that the threat of abduction is forcing many children out of school, while underage girls are being pulled out of classrooms and forced into marriage by families seeking to protect them from school attacks.
Peter Wabba, a government official from Mussa, said on Sunday that he was told the “exact number” of children abducted in Oyo was 48.
“The government is assuring us that they are doing their possible best to see that these children are rescued but up till now, we are still waiting,” he told The Associated Press.
Amnesty also said that the authorities “never fulfill promises to investigate the incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
“Victims and their families continue to be denied access to justice,” it said.
On Saturday, police spokesperson Ayanlade Olayinka told the AP that three gunmen were detained in connection with the Oyo attack, which took place in the Oriire area, about 220 kilometers (135 miles) from the city of Lagos.
The suspects were identified by the community and arrested, Olayinka said. Police did not say if they were searching for more suspects.
Abductions of schoolchildren are common in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, especially in the country’s north. Last year, two mass abductions from schools rocked the nation, with over 300 children taken in the northern region.
School kidnappings have come to define insecurity in Nigeria, and analysts say it’s often because armed gangs see schools as strategic targets they can exploit to draw more attention.
Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has announced the review of the department’s decentralised management model used in public schools following mounting debt to municipalities, widespread billing disputes and disruptions to teaching caused by water and electricity cut-offs.
In a press briefing at Lyndhurst Primary School in Johannesburg on Sunday, Maile maintained that despite the potential benefits that decentralisation could provide to the province, it has become inevitably necessary to review the model.
“For this reason, we are reviewing the de-centralisation model. This has been made necessary by the impediments that it has posed, particularly as it pertains to challenges with financial management and sound governance, which result in the non-payment of municipal services,” Maile said.
Maile outlined the growing financial and infrastructure pressures facing Gauteng’s education system, warning that rapid in-migration, overcrowding and ageing infrastructure were threatening the sustainability of basic education in the province.
This follows a ruling by the North Gauteng High Court earlier in the month that schools could not have their electricity disconnected over unpaid municipal property rates, ordering Tshwane to immediately restore power to affected schools and prohibiting future disconnections.
Maile welcomed the judgment, saying it reaffirmed education as a constitutionally protected right that should not be interrupted because of financial disputes.
He acknowledged, however, that municipalities themselves were under severe financial strain due to poor revenue collection, rising debt and the broader cost-of-living crisis affecting households and businesses.
Maile said Gauteng’s public school system had expanded dramatically since 1994, with learner numbers increasing from about 1.4 million in 1995 to double that, or 2.8 million, in 2026.
Gauteng MEC Lebogang Maile. Photo: supplied
Although the provincial education infrastructure budget had grown from R1.63 billion in 2021/22 to R2.84 billion in 2025/26, he said the increase remained insufficient to meet infrastructure backlogs, maintenance needs and the impact of inflation.
Maile also highlighted the province’s unique challenges, including schools built on dolomitic land, which require costly specialised engineering and foundation designs.
The MEC provided a detailed overview of municipal debt owed by Gauteng schools.
According to the provincial government, schools owe municipalities nearly R584 million for accounts older than 60 days, while debt to Eskom stands at R6.32 million.
The largest share of municipal debt is owed to the City of Johannesburg at R390.71 million, followed by the City of Ekurhuleni at R75.14 million and Tshwane at R51.7 million.
Maile said part of the problem stemmed from estimated billing and schools being under-billed initially before municipalities later applied revised charges based on actual meter readings.
“In some cases, schools have been significantly impacted by inflationary pressures that are not of their own doing. In these instances, there has been a misalignment between increases in municipal tariffs and the annual incremental allocations provided to schools in terms of the National Norms and Standards for School Funding that is issued in terms of Section 35 of the South African Schools Act (SASA),” the MEC said.
He said schools had struggled to absorb sharp tariff increases that exceeded annual state funding allocations.
The MEC said the decentralisation model, introduced mainly for Section 21 schools, transferred responsibility for paying municipal services from the Gauteng Department of Education to individual schools and their School Governing Bodies.
He said the system was intended to promote financial autonomy, accountability and faster decision-making at school level, allowing schools greater flexibility in procurement and resource allocation.
However, Maile admitted the model had also produced serious unintended consequences, particularly for no-fee and low-income schools.
Among the challenges identified were rising municipal debt, weak financial management capacity among some School Governing Bodies, disputes over historical debt, and interruptions to teaching and learning caused by electricity and water disconnections.
He said some schools had inherited debt accumulated before decentralisation was implemented, while others were struggling with escalating operational costs and inadequate funding.
Maile said his department is now reassessing the decentralisation approach and consulting stakeholders on reforms aimed at strengthening governance, improving financial management and protecting teaching and learning from service disruptions.
He said schools should ultimately focus on delivering quality education rather than becoming overwhelmed by administrative and financial burdens.
He added that the provincial government would continue engaging municipalities through intergovernmental structures to ensure compliance with the High Court ruling and assist schools contesting billing disputes.
“Residents of Gauteng must recognise that schools are properties of their communities. Above all, education is a social responsibility and a public good. We all need to play our part in strengthening the education ecosystem in our province – it is in our collective interest,” Maile said.
