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Limpopo and Mpumalanga welcome the matric triumph of 2024

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Limpopo and Mpumalanga welcome the matric triumph of 2024

By Johnathan Paoli

Limpopo and Mpumalanga welcome the matric triumph of 2024

By Johnathan Paoli

The provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga heartily celebrated their learners during the releases of the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam results on Tuesday.

Limpopo education MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya said it was the first time the province had surpassed the 80% threshold since the advent of democracy, earning it sixth place nationally, a leap from seventh last year.

“The class of 2024 made history by pushing boundaries and delivered on their promise,” she said.

Once lagging in performance, Limpopo has now emerged as a “province on the rise”, achieving a historic 85.01% matric pass rate, up from 79.5% in 2023.

The top three districts included Mogalakwena with an 87.8% pass rate, Mopani West with 87.2%, and Vhembe East and Capricorn South tied in third place with 85.8%.

Sekhukhune East was the most improved district, up from 74.7% to 84%.

Setotolwane Secondary from Capricorn South achieved a 100% pass rate with more than half of matriculants achieving Bachelor passes.

Lerule-Ramakhanya attributed this success to the relentless efforts of teachers, principals, parents and stakeholders who united under the shared vision of excellence.

She expressed gratitude to traditional leaders, pastors, government officials and sponsors for their unwavering support. Sponsors were particularly lauded for providing resources like shoes, laptops and bursaries.

While celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2024, Lerule-Ramakhanya emphasised that the work continued.

She said Limpopo had set its sights on achieving a top five national ranking.

In Mpumalanga, education MEC Cathy Dlamini noted that matriculants achieved an 84.99% pass rate, exceeding the province’s target by 1.99% and marking a significant improvement from 2023’s 77%.

“We wish to congratulate the Class of 2024. Your accomplishments are an inspiration to us all. We hope that the Class of 2025 will emulate this best practice. No one must be left behind,” Dlamini said.

Basic Education Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule attended the provincial announcement, thanking all stakeholders had assisted in maintaining the stability and improvement of the sector.

Of the 64,201 candidates who wrote the NSC exams, 54,567 passed, with 27,885 qualifying for Bachelor programmes and there were 23,310 distinctions.

Districts recorded notable improvements in pass rates, with Ehlanzeni District leading at 88.43%, Gert Dibande at 87.67% and Nkangala at third with 85.24%.

Out of the 17 municipalities in the province, the Steve Tshwete local municipality obtained position one after passing 2449 learners which constitute a 92.9% pass rate.

The top-performing circuit was Msukaligwa, achieving a 95.9% pass rate, with 51 out of 71 circuits performing above 80%.

Among schools, 58 were able to pass all learners who wrote, recording a 100% pass rate, an improvement from the 24 schools in 2023.

A total of 201 performed between the 80% and 99% pass rate bracket compared to 117 of 2023, while 500 schools performed above 70% compared to 417 of 2023.

Hoërskool Nelspruit emerged as the best performing institution, with 100% of its learners passing and collectively achieving 366 distinctions.

The most improved school is Madoda Secondary School in Siyabuswa Circuit at Nkangala District, registering an improvement of 62% and obtaining a 90.9% pass rate this time around.

The province also saw impressive results in Mathematics and Physical Sciences, surpassing targets with pass rates of 66.37% and 73.69%, respectively.

Out of the 481 no-fee schools, 31 obtained 100%, 332 schools obtained results above 80% and 412 schools performed above 70%.

The overall best quintile 1 school in the province is Mkolishi Secondary School at Manzana in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality, obtaining a 100 % pass rate for two years in succession and passing all 103 learners who sat for the examination.

Efforts to improve inclusivity and quality education were evident, with 481 no-fee schools participating and significant resources allocated to rural and disadvantaged areas.

Key initiatives for 2025 included strengthening technical high schools, coding and robotics programmes, and e-learning systems.

Dlamini emphasised the province’s commitment to achieving a minimum 80% pass rate across all districts, with intensified support for underperforming schools.

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SA’s big three welcome 2024 NSC results

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SA’s big three welcome 2024 NSC results

By Johnathan Paoli

The country’s most populous provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape are satisfied at the outstanding performance of matriculants.

Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane commended pupils and teachers for their hard work.

“Thousands of you have again in the past year shown your dedication to your profession and to our children, attending courses, participating in our in-service development offerings, upgrading your management skills and most importantly putting our learners at the centre of your efforts every day,” Chiloane said.

Gauteng achieved a historic 88.41% matric pass rate, the highest since 1995 and a 3% improvement from last year.

Notable achievements include 66,979 Bachelor passes, contributing 20% of national bachelor-level qualifications, and a 51.5% pass rate among progressed learners, up from 42.5% in 2023.

All 15 districts surpassed the 84.5% pass rate, with Johannesburg West achieving the highest national district pass rate in the country at 97%.

Gateway subjects like Mathematics and Physical Sciences showed marked improvements. The pass rate for maths was 72.7% and for Physical Sciences 79%.

Indigenous language results were strong, with isiNdebele and South African Sign Language achieving 100% pass rates.

KwaZulu-Natal education MEC Siphosihle Hlomuka praised the collective efforts of educators, parents and stakeholders in overcoming challenges like resource shortages.

“I have the utmost confidence that these young minds will grow into agents of positive change. Armed with knowledge and skills, they are well-equipped to address the numerous challenges faced not only by South Africa, but also by those in other parts of the world,” Hlomuka said.

KwaZulu-Natal achieved an 89.5% pass rate, an improvement from 86.4% in 2023, with 144,990 of the 161,962 learners passing.

The number of schools achieving a 100% pass rate rose from 246 to 321, and no school recorded a 0% pass rate. The number of schools that performed below 75% fell from 288 in 2023 to 182 in 2024.

The uMkhanyakude District led with a 92.8% pass rate, followed by Ugu at 91.7%, and Ilembe and Zululand tied at 89.5%; while the most improved district was King Cetshwayo that moved from 83.4% to 88.6%.

Bachelor passes increased to 84,470, however, the number of diploma passes decreased from 43769 to 42830 and the number of higher certificates also decreased from 20435 to 17609.

The province’s learners performed exceptionally well in languages, recording a 100% in IsiXhosa first additional language, 99.9% in IsiXhosa home language and 99.9% in IsiZulu home language.

In the Eastern Cape, education MEC Fundile Gade encouraged unsuccessful candidates to persevere and highlighed the province’s strides in education quality and accessibility.

“I am proud to express that no learners were left behind in getting the opportunity to sit for their NSC examinations. The future of this country is in your hands, make it work,” Gade said.

Gade was joined by the Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, who is in her home province this week for the matric results and the opening of schools. She commended district directors and teachers and motivated the Eastern Cape to maintain its pursuit of excellence in Mathematics and Science.

“A province like ours, it is incredibly rare that a province such as ours that is incredibly rural, can produce one of the top three highest number of Bachelor passes. [t] says that there is something right happening in the province,” the minister said.

The province achieved an 84.9% pass rate, whoch was a 3.56% increase from 2023. There was a total of 352,524 passes, a 45.7% Bachelor pass rate and 35,640 distinctions, which was a five-year high.

Subject performance improved significantly, with gains in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and gateway subjects such as Accounting and Economics.

The number of schools performing at 70% and below has dropped from 95 to 65, while the number of schools performing above 90% pass has improved from 254 to 382.

School-based assessments saw notable enhancements, while Quintile 1-3 schools demonstrating strong improvements, averaging pass rates above 80%.

The top-performing districts included Chris Hani East (88.5%), Amathole East (87.8%) and Alfred Nzo West (86.9%), while the OR Tambo Coastal district improved the most from 78.3% to 83.9%.

Curriculum interventions like extra classes, virtual lessons and online support played a key role, while collaborations with unions, NGOs and private entities further supporting learners, providing resources and motivation.

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Praise for the Class of 2024

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Praise for the Class of 2024

By Akani Nkuna

Political parties have congratulated the Class of 2024 for their remarkable determination which has ensured that they achieved the highest pass rate in the history of the country.

Despite the unprecedented disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, the pass rate for last year was 87.3%.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri praised the collaborative efforts and parents, teachers and learners, whose combined hard work and dedication led to the improvement in the results.

“The Class of 2024 achieved a historic 87.3% pass rate, the highest in the country’s history. This remarkable milestone reflects the resilience of learners, educators and parents, as well as the decisive role of successive ANC-led administrations’ interventions in education,” she said on Tuesday.

The matric pass rate was 82.9% in 2023. A notable highlight is that the class got the highest ever number of Bachelor passes at 47.8%, representing a 6.9% increase from the previous year.

Democratic Alliance education spokesperson Delmaine Christians also applauded the learners, saying that despite facing adversities and budget constraints which impacted teacher staffing, class sizes, school safety and access to quality resources, they surged beyond expectations.

“We know that learners had to overcome severe socio-economic and other circumstances to reach Grade 12 and sit their examinations, and that many of them used their circumstances as a motivation to ensure they achieve the best possible results,” she said.

Christians further said that the party recommended that South African Council for Educators be strengthened to ensure all teachers were equipped to provide quality education, as even top students struggled with ineffective teaching.

Meanwhile, the EFF cautioned that the country faced significant concerns due to dwindling interest in Physical Sciences and has called for a strong foundation to be instituted for this crucial subject.

EFF spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys said that “the declining participation in Physical Sciences and the lack of improvement in results are also major concerns for South Africa’s future”.

“A robust foundation in these subjects is essential for global competitiveness and participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” she said in a statement.

The GOOD Party is also urging the government to allocate more funds to education, focusing on rural areas so that students in village schools receive the same quality education as those in suburban schools.

“Government [needs] to place greater priority on basic education as the basic building block our developmental society. We must [spend] more money on developing our children…,  said GOOD secretary general Brett Herron.

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Class of 2024 achieves historic high in NSC results

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Class of 2024 achieves historic high in NSC results

By Johnathan Paoli

Matriculants spent Monday night on tenterhooks waiting to hear how they performed in their final exams.

Earlier in the day, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced that the Class of 2024 achieved a historical pass rate of 87.3%. A total of 615,429 learners passed the exams, despite spending two of their years in high school during the height of Covid-19 pandemic, which started in 2020.

The pass rate is up from 82.9% in 2023, with nearly half (47.8%) of the candidates earning a Bachelor pass, a qualification required for university admission. This marks a substantial improvement from 40.9%, with the number of Bachelor passes doubling over the past decade to 337,158 in 2024.

Notably, 67% of these passes came from Quintile 1 to 3 schools in poorer communities, with the minister underscoring education’s transformative power.

All provinces recorded pass rates above 84%, with the Free State leading at 91%, while the Northern Cape showed the most improvement, surging by 8.3% from 2023.

KwaZulu-Natal got the second highest pass rate at 89.5%, followed by Gauteng with 88.4 %.

The North West has a pass rate of 87.5%, the Western Cape with 86.6% and Limpopo with 85.01%.

Mpumalanga got 84.99%, the Eastern Cape 84.98% and the Northern Cape at 84.2%.

The matriculants earned an impressive 319,651 distinctions, a significant increase from the previous year.

Key subjects like Mathematics saw an improved performance, with the pass rate rising from 63.5% in 2023 to 69.1% in 2024.

However, Physical Sciences showed a slight decline, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in foundational literacy and numeracy.

KwaZulu-Natal led in Bachelor passes (84,470), followed by Gauteng (66,979) and the Eastern Cape (45,662), while schools in rural and under-resourced areas also celebrated top achievers, emphasising the reach and impact of education initiatives.

Additionally, no-fee schools improved their pass rates from 81% in 2023 to 85.8%, demonstrating the success of initiatives such as the National School Nutrition Programme.

The National Top Learner Awards were won by Owethu Shangase from John Wesley from Kasi Bay Private School and Rayyan Ebrahim Pinelands High School, both from KwaZulu-Natal.

The Class of 2024 began Grade 1 in 2013 and faced the unprecedented disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic during critical educational years.

Speaking in Johannesburg, Minister Gwarube highlighted the achievements of the “Covid generation”, who overcame numerous challenges to achieve the highest matric pass rate in the country’s history.

“This occasion is not only a moment to recognise the accomplishments of our learners, but is also an opportunity for us as a country to reflect on the health of our basic education system at the start of 2025,” she said.

She said the department aimed to achieve universal access to quality ECD programmes by 2030 and strengthen curriculum delivery in the Foundation Phase, with investments in early literacy and numeracy will lay the groundwork for long-term systemic improvements.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised the matriculants for the results they achieved.

“The achievements of the Class of 2024 are a proud contribution to and evidence of our progress as a nation during 30 years of freedom and democracy,” Ramaphosa said.

He said, going forward, the government must ensure opportunities for the learners, including space and inspiration for the youth to set their own course as entrepreneurs, innovators, inventors and other embodiments of creativity and self-reliance.

The president also called for a renewal in addressing the challenges facing both the education sector and the economy, stating his confidence that the matriculants themselves might produce solutions to the country’s problems.

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Education DG praises teachers, parents for supporting matriculants

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Education DG praises teachers, parents for supporting matriculants

By Thebe Mabanga

The performances of learners from poor backgrounds, as well as the sacrifices of teachers, learners and broader communities were the most commendable features of this year’s matric results.

That is according to Basic Education director-general Mathanzima Mweli, who spoke shortly after giving the technical presentation of the matric results of the Class of 2024, who achieved a record pass rate of 87,3%. 

Mweli spoke of teachers “who know of no weekends and no holidays” in order to offer extra lessons and camps, as well as parents who gave up their time and other resources to support learners in camps by offering services like security and catering.

“The broader support from civil society in order for learners to receive extra support is something I have never seen,” he said.

This year’s matric exam had a fulltime enrolment of 724,156 candidates and 155,948 part-time candidates. This group started school in 2013 as 1,2 million. A total of 740,876 matriculated, which is a retention rate of 61,6 %.

But Mweli noted that this was not due to the widely held belief that there was a high drop-out rate.

“The problem is not high drop-out, it is high failure rate and repeating grades,” he said, suggesting that most learners were still in the system and would reach matric, just not in the envisaged record time.

A total of 572,338 learners, more than 75% of the candidates, were grant recipients.

Mweli attributed this statistic to the support offered by government.

“Government offers a safety net.”

This group of learners started their high school careers in 2020, the year of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Mweli said they have benefited from “extraordinary support” since the pandemic in the form of extra classes, support for former model C schools, a wider range of subjects, more intense monitoring and the use of data to track progress.

The pass rate for no fee school was 85,8%, while fee paying school achieved 90,1 % and independent schools achieved 91,9%. The pass rate among males and females was almost similar at 87,5% for females and 87,1 % for males, while the bachelor pass rate stood at 47,8 %.

An impressive feature of these results was the record low enrolment and absentee rate.

In 2017, of the learners who were registered for Grade 12 by October, 15% did not write their final exam. This year the figure of absentees was only 2,63%.

Mweli attributed this improvement to the confidence that learners have developed in their chances of passing.

“You are unlikely to go write if you feel you are going to fail,” he explained.

Government says it had to contend with a number of challenges in the staging and marking of these exams. These range from inclement weather such as floods and heat waves, to water and electricity supply challenges. There was also the challenge of marker wellbeing as well as food handling and hygiene.

To deal with the weather, government provided daily forecasts and enlisted the support of the South African National Defence Force. It also allowed learners to use accessible exam centres in the event of floods, for instance.

Marking centres were supplied with backup power and water tanks, while markers were given access to psycho sociological support to aid their overall health and wellbeing. Stringent food preparation and handling measures were also put in place.

Mweli used the occasion to pay tribute to all education ministers who have served during the country’s democracy, starting with the recently deceased Prof. Sibusiso Bengu, the late Kader Asmal and Angie Motshekga as well as former directors-general Thami Mseleku and Duncan Hindle.

He also paid tribute to the four educators and markers who lost their lives during the marking period.

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DHET must get its act together to ensure stronger delivery

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DHET must get its act together to ensure stronger delivery

By Edwin Naidu

The post-matric focus will swing sharply to the future for thousands of South African matriculants.

Now, it inevitably falls on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme’s (NSFAS) ability to ensure a smooth start to the academic year.

One hopes that the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education wields a bigger stick in dealing with the country’s education administrators.

The lawmakers allowed him an easy ride for all that went wrong under the watchful eye of former minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande.

Although his demotion as minister of Science and Innovation ensured he remains in the gravy, his legacy in higher education continues to cast a shadow.

The committee convened in Parliament to receive briefings from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) on its quarter 2 performance report for the 2024/25 financial year. DHET was asked to prepare a presentation on the shortcomings of the sector’s legislative provisions.

However, the committee said it was unsatisfied with the lack of information. It suggested that specific problematic provisions, their limitations and DHET’s proposals for addressing these be included.

In fairness to the new Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, the criticism levelled at the department would have become her responsibility after she assumed the role on 3 July.

In November, the committee members criticised the department for its lack of timely and comprehensive written responses, which were often delayed and left members more confused.

These are legacy issues which go back to Dr Nzimande.

Members criticised DHET for its inability to monitor and oversee its entities effectively. They were also puzzled that the DHET assigned the critical infrastructure expenditure function for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges to the National Skills Fund. This entity struggles to report on its activities and submit its annual report.

Dr Nzimande never addressed the various allegations around the NSF. Some skeletons refuse to go away.

Members were frustrated by DHET’s inability to fill vacancies and its reporting of quarterly targets. The information did not clearly show how DHET addressed its vacancies.

At one point, the department had over 4000 vacancies and returned R580 million to the National Treasury for funded posts.

The same committee, mindful of these issues, allowed Dr Nzimande to leave office without accounting to Parliament.

Members urged the department to improve. As the 2025 academic year readies for the influx of new matriculants looking for study opportunities at tertiary institutions, one hopes the NSFAS will make the process smoother.

Above all, what hope is there when the country’s lawmakers operate tardily and do not hold the very people who are meant to deliver accountable?

The committee questioned why the NSF procured its ICT system through the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) rather than pursue competitive bidding in the market.

The NSF clarified that this approach would expedite the system’s development, and that procurement of ICT systems must be conducted through SITA. The procured service provider will develop an ICT system linked with NSF data and project management systems, scheduling, learner performance and other crucial data.

Numerous media reports have been about the NSF’s many failings. One hopes that Minister Nkabane will investigate all that her predecessor glossed over.

However, she must do something urgent about the number of people in acting positions, especially since R580 million was returned to the National Treasury over the last two years due, suggesting that the department lacks urgency in addressing this issue.

The vacancies had been a recurring audit found by the Auditor-General. Yet, the committee never grilled the former minister about this, considering there seemed to be poor monitoring and accountability in the department during his time.

While the excitement about matriculants will dominate, Minister Nkabane will increasingly find her work cut out in ensuring that the department delivers, is adequately staffed, and, above all, holds all entities under its watch accountable. South Africa expects as much from the department.

One also expects the portfolio committee to grill education entities on how they’re making a difference to the country’s landscape. The more we interrogate whether South Africa is getting bang for its buck, the more we may see better use of public resources.

Is it shocking that the education department returns half a billion rand to the Treasury because it failed to fill vacancies — and nobody finds anything wrong?

Edwin Naidu is the Editor of Inside Education.

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Matriculants upbeat about their future

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Matriculants upbeat about their future

By Johnathan Paoli

The country’s 39 top achieving learners of the Class of 2024 have expressed hope and confidence in their future endeavours despite the challenges.

The learners were honoured at a ministerial breakfast at the MTN Centre in Johannesburg on Monday. It was attended by the leaders of the Basic Education Department and MTN.

Inside Education spoke to some of the learners being honoured, including Malandlwa Baloyi from New Hope School in Pretoria. Despite having brittle bone disease, she has achieved academic excellence and is now set to study psychology at Stellenbosch University.

“I’m still processing that I worked hard enough to be here. My disability played a major role in challenging my progress as a matriculant,” she said.

Olwetho Langelihle Ntombela from Inanda Newtown Comprehensive High School in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, similarly expressed joy at being recognised for his hard work.

“I plan on studying mechanical engineering, but still need to choose where I will complete my tertiary studies,” Ntombela said.

Sboniso Mathebula from Mayflower Secondary School in Mpuluzi, Mpumalanga, said he was hoping to further his career at the University of Johannesburg, specialising in computer science.

“It has been a really rough journey and after writing, I really thought that all my chances of coming here were shattered, but God had other plans,” he said.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube commended the top achievers for their determination, hailing their resilience in the face of not only individual challenges, but also being a generation that had to endure the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when starting high school.

“Learners, we are here to celebrate your brilliance. The spotlight belongs to you. Many of you began your high school journey in 2020, at the start of the pandemic and navigated a world in which learning and teaching became exceedingly difficult,” Gwarube said.

She reminded the matriculants about the value of hard work, perseverance and integrity, and called on them to be leaders who were innovative, hard working and ethical.

“As you take on the new chapter in your life, be an ethical leader, and let what you learned at home and at school be your guiding light,” Gwarube said.

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Umalusi gives go ahead to release NSC results

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Umalusi gives go ahead to release NSC results

By Simon Nare

Umalusi CEO Dr Mafu Rakometsi has given the Department of Basic Education the green light to release the 2024 matric results despite revelations that 407 cases of cheating were detected during the exams.

They were mainly in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.

Rakometsi said that even though the cases were less than the 945 reported in 2023, Umalusi remained concerned, especially as the two provinces had once again topped the list. There were 195 cases in KwaZulu-Natal and 74 in Mpumalanga.

Addressing a media briefing on the matric results on Monday, Rakometsi said the results were credible and were monitored be several independent bodies and three bodies from neighbouring countries Lesotho, Zambia and Malawi.

He cautioned against cheating tendencies.

“I want to state emphatically that cheating does not pay. This finds support in the judgment of the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court which was delivered on 12 August 2024 in respect of 448 learners from a number of schools in the Mpumalanga Province who cheated during their NSC examinations during October/December 2022,” he said.

Umalusi also received a report from the department that an independent school allowed 30 candidates who did not pass Grade 11 to register for the Grade 12 examinations. The school’s registration has been revoked.

Rakometsi said that Umalusi had learnt from reports presented by the Department of Higher Education and Training that 128 private colleges administered the N2-N3 examinations despite the colleges not being accredited by Umalusi.

It has directed the department to investigate the matter and furnish it with a full report.

He said a total of 1,060,852 learners sat for end of the year examinations. The National Senior Certificate accounted for 832,993 candidates.

The remaining 227,859 were spread across three qualifications with 138 000 writing the national certificate vocational L2-L4 examinations, 49,421 the N2-N3 examinations, and 40,438 wrote the GETC: ABET examinations.

The exams were administered at 9,566 examination centres across the nine provinces.

Rakometsi said that he was confident about that the standardisation of the exam results.

“Crucially important, I want to assure you that there were no deviations from the standardisation principles in the manner in which the ASC (Assessment Standards Committee) standardised the 514 subject results.

“This makes it abundantly clear that the ASC carries a great responsibility on its shoulders, i.e. to ensure that Umalusi truly honours its vision of being a trusted authority in fostering high education standards in General and Further Education and Training (GFET),” he said.

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KZN education admits inability to provide resources to schools

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KZN education admits inability to provide resources to schools

By Johnathan Paoli

The KwaZulu-Natal government has confirmed its inability to supply learning and teaching support material (LTSM) to certain districts due to financial challenges as a result of budget cuts.

Education HOD Nkosinathi Ngcobo said that his department would proceed with payments to service providers for LTSM that have already been delivered to certain schools.

“Schools must refer these cases to district offices for further resolution, which shall be made in consultation with schools to ensure that learners are not prejudiced,” Ngcobo said.

The HOD said that districts would convey the undertaking to suppliers which were awarded orders for the supply of LTSM through seeking feedback whether deliveries shall be forthcoming.

Ngcobo said in cases where deliveries were made, schools were reminded to ensure that invoices were adequately signed, stamped and dated in order to confirm accountability.

He said that once invoices were uploaded onto the online platform, his department would verify deliveries against orders placed and prioritise the transfer of funds to schools within 30 days.

Ngcobo called for the cooperation of all stakeholders to uphold the rights of learners.

This follows claims by the department that the supply of materials was on track ahead of the 2025 academic year.

Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka maintained that his department was almost complete in the delivery of resources, saying last week that 99% of textbooks and 76% of stationery had been delivered across the province for pupils in 4174 schools.

Unions in the province questioned this claim, with the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa) maintaining its inability to confirm Hlomuka’s assertion.

Naptosa provincial CEO Thirona Moodley said the organisation remained concerned that schools were under resourced for the previous year and that this would be carried over to the upcoming year.

“Schools are in arrears with municipal bills and are unable to keep the operations of the school afloat. School principals can no longer take on the financial burden of the department,” Moodley said.

The Public Servants Association also condemned the department for failing to deliver LTSM on time.

PSA provincial manager Mlungisi Ndlovu stressed the impact this would have on learners. While acknowledging that some progress has been made, he highlighted that the incomplete and delayed allocation of LTSM posed a serious threat to the operational readiness of schools.

Hlomuka previously admitted that delivery failures were due to security concerns at certain schools, claiming that the department was actively working with authorities to curb potential theft and other forms of crime in order to safeguard delivery.

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Schools urged to ditch frills on first day of reopening, focus on learning

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Schools urged to ditch frills on first day of reopening, focus on learning

By Akani Nkuna

The Department of Basic Education is being urged to prioritise its core responsibilities, specifically school admissions and teaching, on the first day of the new school year.

Makhi Feni, the chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Science and Creative Industries, said that this would ensure a smooth start to the academic year.

“On behalf of the committee, we trust Minister Siviwe Gwarube and her team will ensure the reopening of schools runs smoothly,” said Feni.

He highlighted ongoing concerns and campaigns surrounding scholar transport and other pressing issues, including the proposed reduction of teacher posts, arguing that they should not affect teaching, especially on the first day.

“These are side shows that need not impact the reopening of schools, and the necessary learner and teacher support should be provided to all schools so that they are geared for effective learning on the first day,” he said.

Feni emphasised that the first day of school should prioritise the basics, which were enrolment, registration and providing students with necessary curriculum-aligned materials.

Feni also addressed concerns that matric results were being sold online for a fee, sparking concerns about the integrity and accessibility of the results.

“The issue around paying a fee to view results is another form of extortion and should not be entertained,” he said.

Feni emphasised that the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act was focused on shaping the future of South African education, rather than catering to special interest groups nostalgic for the past.

He further expressed confidence that Gwarube would be transparent with Parliament and avoid politicising the implementation of the legislation.

“We trust that Minister Gwarube will not seek to use the regulations for political gain of BELA opponents. The president has ordered a complete implementation in the presidential ascension to the BELA Act. It is such a comprehensive piece of legislation that need not be viewed with narrow minds,” he said.

South African schools are set to reopen this week. The Class of 2024 will get their results on Tuesday.

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