By Lebone Rodah Mosima
South Africa needs about R120 billion for additional classrooms and sanitation facilities to meet current demand in public schools, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) said on Monday, as growing learner numbers and fiscal constraints deepen pressure.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube highlighted the scale of the infrastructure challenge at the launch of the new LEAP 9 Maths and Science School in Kariega, Eastern Cape, where she welcomed Volkswagen South Africa’s investment in the project.
Gwarube described the school as an example of how government and business could work together to expand educational opportunities.
“Government has the primary responsibility for providing quality public education, but the scale of our infrastructure requirements demands that we mobilise every available resource. Responsible private sector partnerships can help us accelerate investment in the environments in which our children learn,” Gwarube said.
The DBE estimates that approximately R120 billion is required for additional classrooms and sanitation facilities to meet current demand across the public education system. Growing learner numbers and a constrained fiscal environment are compounding the challenge.
Gwarube thanked Volkswagen South Africa for its contribution, saying the investment was particularly significant in a province with a major automotive and manufacturing sector.
She said the LEAP 9 Maths and Science School aligns with the department’s Strong Foundations, Strong Futures strategy, which seeks to improve foundational literacy and numeracy while strengthening the pipeline into mathematics, science, technology and other gateway subjects.
“That eight out of 10 children cannot read for meaning by the age of 10 should concern every South African. We must strengthen the foundations of learning if we want young South Africans to succeed in STEM fields and participate meaningfully in our economy,” she said.
Gwarube said Volkswagen’s “Cradle to Career” approach reflected the importance of sustained investment in human capital.
“The learners at LEAP 9 are future engineers, scientists, teachers, entrepreneurs and skilled professionals. Some may one day contribute to the very industries that drive the Eastern Cape economy. Investing in their education is an investment in the province’s future.”
She called on more businesses to partner with government to expand access to quality infrastructure, strengthen mathematics and science education, and expose learners to career opportunities.
“The Eastern Cape has enormous human potential. We must ensure that geography or circumstances of birth never place a ceiling on a young person’s ambition,” she said.
Speaking at the launch, Volkswagen Group Africa Chairperson and Managing Director Martina Biene reflected on the company’s 75-year journey in South Africa and its investment in communities around its Kariega operations.
Biene described Volkswagen as deeply rooted in the communities where it operates, saying the company sought to respond to community needs and invest in empowering people.
She highlighted LEAP 9 as another example of Volkswagen’s commitment to education and expanding opportunities for young people in KwaNobuhle.
The LEAP 9 project has transformed the former Mlungisi Perfector School into a Maths and Science primary and high school in KwaNobuhle.
“We put our money where our mouth is, but also our hands and our hearts,” Biene said.
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