By Johnathan Paoli

The Gauteng education department has confirmed significant progress in resolving long-standing municipal debt owed by public schools and outlined major infrastructure plans to address overcrowding.

The department announced on Thursday that as of the end of June, it had successfully settled 99.95% of the R426.45 million owed to municipalities and Eskom by schools without Section 21(1)(d) financial functions.

“As the department, we remain committed to ensuring sound financial governance, transparency and service continuity in all public schools. We call on all education stakeholders, particularly parents, communities and School Governing Bodies (SGBs) to continue working closely with the department to deliver quality learning environments across Gauteng,” education MEC Matome Chiloane said.

A remaining balance of just R175,853.61, amounting to 0.05%, will be cleared by mid-August.

The delay in finalising the last payment was attributed to technical updates linked to the Standard Chart of Accounts, an accounting reform introduced by the Provincial Treasury to modernise and enhance financial management systems across government departments.

The department currently retains direct financial control over 40 public schools in Gauteng that have not been granted Section 21 functions, which would otherwise allow SGBs to manage their own finances.

As of last month, these schools had a combined municipal debt of just over R105,000.

The department confirmed that none of these schools have been disconnected from basic services such as water and electricity, and that active financial oversight and payments were ongoing to prevent any future disruptions.

Schools are funded annually according to the Amended National Norms and Standards for School Funding.

SGBs are expected to use these allocations prudently, with guidance from compliance workshops and departmental circulars.

These funds are also meant to supplement state contributions to ensure the financial sustainability of each school.

To confront the persistent challenge of overcrowding in Gauteng schools, the department is investing R2.8 billion in school infrastructure development during the 2025/26 financial year.

Of this total, R1.489 billion is allocated for constructing new schools and replacing dilapidated infrastructure, R615 million will go toward upgrades and additions, including mobile classrooms and self-build projects, R166 million is dedicated to refurbishment and rehabilitation, and R476 million is allocated to maintenance interventions.

The department outlined a multifaceted approach to solving overcrowding, focusing on both short-term relief and long-term sustainability.

This includes the construction of new schools on available land, expansion of classrooms within existing school sites using cost-effective self-build methods, and the direct procurement of mobile classrooms.

In a move to accelerate infrastructure delivery in high-pressure areas, the department is actively exploring a public-private partnership model.

Under this initiative, private sector partners will design, build and potentially maintain new schools, while the government pays for the infrastructure over time through agreed amortisation schedules.

Chiloane reiterated the department’s commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency and continuous service delivery, urging all stakeholders, including parents, SGBs and community members to collaborate with the department in its efforts to improve the quality of education and school environments.

The department encouraged the public to follow its platforms for further updates and insights into ongoing programmes.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Akani Nkuna

Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Mimmy Gondwe has called for the rebranding of community colleges to attract and serve learners across different age groups.

She said they would in turn uplift those around them and help combat the scourge of unemployment, especially in rural communities.

Gondwe undertook a visit to the Eastern CET College, Phakamile Community Learning Center in Kariega, as part of a Mandela Month outreach programme.

She urged both private and public sector stakeholders to collaborate in tackling challenges facing community colleges across the country.

“Community colleges in general and this college, in particular, face a number of challenges which include the lack of infrastructure and resources, low enrolment rates and poor academic performance,” she said.

“As such, there is a dire need to rebrand community colleges to be fit-for-purpose and make them the colleges of choice for out of school youth and adults.”

Gondwe was accompanied by representatives from seven of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), including the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing SETA, as the main partner to help revamp Phakamile.

She said it was imperative that the physical structures of community colleges were well-taken care so that they were attractive destinations of learning.

Part of the activities undertaken during the visit included cleaning and painting classrooms.

“Even though this centre is housed in an old school building, there is a lot that we as a collective can do to significantly turnaround the situation for the better. By responding to this call to action, we are literally transforming the centre into a more conducive and dignified teaching and learning environment,” Gondwe added.

She also extended the call to the students to be ambassadors of the centre to help ensure that enrolment numbers went up.

“I trust that the work done here today at the centre will lead to retaining the current students, tripling the enrolment at the centre and render it more conducive for teaching and learning,” she said.

“Let the work that we are doing here today not signify the end — but a brand new beginning. Let us leave Phakamile Learning Centre inspired, not only by the improvements made but by the collective efforts that have these improvements possible.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Despite fiscal pressures and mounting social demands, driving transformation, improving learner outcomes and strengthening infrastructure remain the principles of the KwaZulu-Natal’s education budget, according to MEC Sipho Hlomuka.

Tabling the department’s 2025/26 budget vote, Hlomuka unveiled a R56 billion allocation framed as a balancing act between constitutional commitments and financial constraints.

“I stand before you acutely aware of the magnitude of the work required to deliver quality education for the people of KwaZulu Natal. I am equally aware that the needs associated with this mandate far exceed available resources,” Hlomuka said.

He highlighted the cumulative R26.8 billion in budget reductions absorbed since 2021/22, warning that these have delayed school allocations, increased the risk of unauthorised expenditure and forced reprioritisations.

An R900 million advance from the equitable share helped relieve some pressure by enabling timely transfers to schools, but the MEC cautioned that core operations, particularly the protection of teacher salaries, would continue to dominate spending.

Nearly 90% of the department’s budget is consumed by the compensation of employees.

Of the 107,503 approved posts, 98,987 are currently filled, largely due to affordability constraints.

Hlomuka noted the growing unsustainability of maintaining the educator workforce under current funding levels.

In response, the department has implemented stringent cost-containment strategies including vehicle tracking systems which have improved fleet management and curbed misuse; R120 million in annual office lease costs is being reassessed, with plans to build or purchase state-owned facilities; a phased rollout of smart schools has seen 92 tech-enabled institutions launched; and operational costs such as travel, accommodation, and printing have been slashed.

The department is also conducting learner and staff verification to eliminate ghost employees and improve the allocation of resources across nutrition, transport and teacher provisioning.

Hlomuka unveiled a Provincial Academic Improvement Plan, focusing on reducing the number of schools with sub-70% pass rates, increasing passes in gateway subjects like Mathematics and Accounting, intensifying interventions such as spring classes, winter boot camps and high-flyer” support programmes, and sustaining district-level performance above 80%.

A major concern raised was the delay in filling 737 educator posts advertised in August last year.

School governing bodies (SGB) reportedly failed to submit timely recommendations, disrupting teaching and learning.

In response, the department invoked Section 6 of the Employment of Educators Act to appoint teachers directly.

The fifth phase of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative has created 45,658 school-based jobs across KwaZulu-Natal, with 35,336 posts being funded through R881 million from the Labour Department and 10,322 jobs funded via R261 million from the National Treasury.

In addition, 1000 graduate interns and 390 TVET students have been placed in schools and district offices to gain practical experience.

With over 2.8 million learners in public schools and 29,000 in independent institutions, the department is prioritising foundational learning through strengthened Grade R and Pre-Grade R interventions.

The MEC said that in light of international benchmark assessments revealing persistent reading challenges in Grade 4, interventions included implementing the Qalakahle curriculum management strategy, expanding early grade reading instruction training for isiZulu teachers, distributing storybooks to 222 schools and procuring materials for 282 more.

Thousands of Grade R teachers and Early Childhood Development practitioners have also been trained in literacy, numeracy and curriculum implementation.

Despite storm damage and contractor delays, the department remains committed to infrastructure delivery, with construction currently under way at three technical high cchools: Mvaba (20%), Nombika (50%) and Mpumelelo (25%).

Design work is progressing at Sihayo and Dingeka technical high schools, while two new focus schools, the Maritime School of Excellence (Umlazi) and Mbuso Kubheka ICT and Engineering School (Amajuba), are scheduled to open next year.

A total of 24 schools are on track for completion in 2025/26.

Initially funded at R457 million in 2020, the budget has since dropped to R266 million, with only R94 million remaining for 2025/26.

As a result, learner beneficiaries will be reduced from 76000 to just 9000 unless additional funds are secured.

Meanwhile, the National School Nutrition Programme will operate with a R2.33 billion budget in 2025/26, feeding learners for 200 days.

The department has introduced breakfast meals at 3877 primary schools, reaching 1.4 million learners.

The department’s “My Life, My Future” campaign aims to reduce HIV infections, teenage pregnancy, and dropout rates. Over 750 youth were recruited as Learner Support Agents, reaching more than 100,000 vulnerable learners in hotspot schools.

A R69.3 million budget has been set aside for these interventions, including peer education camps and training for educators and school management.

Hlomuka called on all sectors including government, civil society, parents and educators to unite in support of the department’s transformation agenda.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Amy Musgrave

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has written to the KwaZulu-Natal education department demanding answers over allegations surrounding the National School Nutrition Programme.

The provincial department confirmed on Wednesday that it would respond to her as well as to KwaZulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli over claims of corruption, political interference and tender irregularities.

KZN education HOD Nkosinathi Ngcobo also said that the department would respond to bidders who were unhappy with the process.

“The department wants to place on record that it will respond to all the bidders who would have submitted their objections / appeals to the Bid Appeals Tribunal convened under the auspices of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury,” he said in a statement.

Last week, education MEC Sipho Hlomuka denied allegations of political interference and personal enrichment linked to the tender.

Responding to claims made by the NSNP Service Providers Association, the MEC acknowledged past ties with a company allegedly implicated in the current tender award, but said he had divested years before taking office.

The department said on Wednesday it was issuing the statement to clarify concerns in the media that there had been irregularities in how the R2.9 billion NSNP tender has been processed.

“From the outset, it is important, that we place on record the fact that the process has been done in line with all the procurement processes and relevant prescripts,” it said.

“The process undertaken had various stages which included the advertising of the tender after which every eligible South African was at liberty to apply. It is also very important to indicate that after the advertisement of the bid, all bidders were invited to the compulsory briefing sessions in all the 12 districts, where all the bidders were taken through the requirements of the bid.”

It said all the bids received, amounting to approximately 20,000, were subjected to the same comprehensive evaluation criteria in line with all the Supply Chain Management processes.

All the bids were subjected to a standard evaluation process as set out in the bid document, and the evaluation and adjudication were followed in line with the prescribed procedures.

The department was currently at a stage where it was dealing with appeals or objections.

It said it must be noted that with regards to this tender that while attracted thousands of bidders, they were competing for 1756 clusters across the 12 districts.

“We note with disappointment that once some bidders are not recommended for the award, they resort to illegitimising the entire process,” the statement read.

However, the appeals process would afford the bidders an opportunity to raise the grievances.

The premier and minister have come under pressure from various quarters to act against Hlomuka.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

The government is taking steps to make schools more inclusive for children with disabilities.

The Department of Basic Education told Parliament that over 67,000 learners with disabilities were now in ordinary public schools, and more than 259,000 teachers have been trained to support them. 

Briefing the Select Committee on Education and Creative Industries, the department said it was working to ensure that children with disabilities could learn alongside their peers in safe and supportive environments, starting from early childhood all the way to high school.

“We are using inclusive education to give effect to the constitutional mandate that education must be accessible to all,” said the deputy director-general Jabulani Ngcobo.

According to the department, enrolment in special schools doubled from 64,000 in 2002 to 127,677 learners. Public schools now host an additional 67,104 learners with disabilities, while about 9000 more remained in community-based care centres awaiting school placement.

To support the rollout of inclusive education, 259,000 teachers have been trained in specialisations such as Braille, South African Sign Language, autism and other inclusive education fields. 

“There’s an increase in the number of teachers that are being trained… our current total nationally is just over 259,000,” said chief director Cheryl Weston.

A multidisciplinary national task team has been created to identify and place out-of-school learners into appropriate schools. As of the latest figures, 403 learners had already been moved into schools, with more placements expected as the screening and support processes continue.

“This is a sensitive process. We need to screen learners, identify their challenges and then find schools where they can be placed appropriately,” Weston explained.

The department confirmed that 88% of special schools have already received Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment and connectivity. Learning materials, including Braille and large-print books, were also being supplied. 

“We can report 100% of requisition already from all special schools for 2026,” Weston said.

She noted that materials were also uploaded online for access by schools and provinces.

Across provinces, infrastructure upgrades were underway.

However, chairperson of the committee, Makhi Feni, raised serious concerns over the state of Nokuthula School in Gauteng, calling it “a ticking time bomb, a disaster or a crisis in motion”. 

He criticised the department’s report on the school as not accurately reflecting the real situation.

The department said it was scaling up scholar transport for special schools, with increasing numbers of learners and schools served each year. 

It also highlighted co-curricular initiatives like adapted school sports and participation in national choral competitions.

“We are working to ensure that learners with disabilities feel included not only in classrooms but also in extracurricular activities,” Weston stated.

The department is currently reviewing White Paper 6, the national policy on inclusive education, with a ministerial task team working alongside provincial teams. 

Oversight has also improved, with three to four provinces monitored annually and collaboration with disability advocacy organisations now a standard practice.

The department’s director-general, Mathanzima Mweli, acknowledged progress, but said more needed to be done.

“We’ve made some progress, but not good enough… Only learners with severe disabilities should be in specialised institutions. The rest must go to ordinary public schools,” he said.

Challenges remain, particularly around under-expenditure in provinces due to delayed appointments and procurement. 

Weston said the department has escalated issues to provincial heads and imposed penalties where needed.

“We do issue notices of intention to withhold the transfer. If there’s no improvement, we then withhold the transfer,” she said.

Mweli pledged to follow up on problem areas, including Nokuthula School. 

“I promise… I will go to Gauteng and visit Nokuthula, work with the department to deal with the issues,” he said. 

“You’re holding us accountable, and we’re making progress because of your oversight.”

Members of the committee welcomed the progress but called for urgency and more honest reporting.

The department was reminded by MP Malesela Mokwele that “disability is not inability”, and urged schools to be more accessible, especially in rural areas.

“We’re not doing oversight just to tick a box…We need full transparency about what is happening on the ground,” Feni said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnatahn Paoli

The Gauteng education department has confirmed that 20 learners were injured in a scholar transport accident near West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg early Monday morning.

Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane expressed relief that there were no fatalities and praised the quick response of emergency services and school authorities.

“We are continuing to engage with relevant authorities to determine the cause of the accident and ensure accountability. We urge all scholar transport drivers, whether public or private, to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of our learners remains a top priority at all times. We wish all learners a speedy recovery,” Chiloane said.

The incident occurred at around 7am along West Park Road. The vehicle was reportedly transporting learners to Greenside High School, Parktown Girls’ High School and Roosevelt High School.

According to a statement released by department, the vehicle overturned after the driver lost control while navigating a bend.

Preliminary reports suggest that the vehicle was travelling at high speed, which may have contributed to the crash.

The department confirmed that 13 of the injured learners were from Greenside High, spanning Grades 8 to 11.

Four were from Roosevelt and three from Parktown.

Emergency medical personnel treated the injured learners on-site before transporting them to various healthcare facilities across Johannesburg for further assessment and treatment.

Most of them have already been discharged.

However, the department noted that one learner from Greenside High remained hospitalised and would undergo surgery for injuries sustained during the crash

The department has activated its trauma support unit and is providing counselling services to the learners and their families.

These services are being made available both at the schools and through referrals to social workers, psychologists and other support professionals to help the learners deal with the emotional aftermath of the incident.

The department has committed to working closely with law enforcement agencies and the transport department to investigate the accident.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

This week, more light is expected to be shed on a R2.9 billion National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) tender in KwaZulu-Natal that has some political parties and NGOs demanding action against education MEC Sipho Hlomuka.

The MEC was given until Monday by KwaZulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli to submit a detailed report in response to allegations of corruption, political interference and tender irregularities within his department.

Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said the MEC had met the deadline, and the department would issue a statement on Tuesday.

This follows Ntuli writing to Hlomuka seeking a written explanation regarding his alleged links to a company currently bidding for a portion of the nutrition contract.

“As the department of education in KwaZulu-Natal, we can confirm that the MEC has received the letter from the premier as the premier had promised he was going to write to the MEC requesting him to give to give explanation as to the allegations regarding the school nutrition tender. The MEC has dealt with the letter accordingly. We are appealing to the public to give both the premier and the MEC the space to process the responses as per the premier’s request,” Mahlambi said.

While there were concerns about the impact of feeding learners in the province, Mahlambi said the current tender process had not been compromised and remained within prescribed regulatory stages, including the current NSNP contracts that ended in March 2026.

“With the one that kick starts in next year April, it must be understood in the context of it being a process with stages. There was a stage of advertising, there was a stage of briefing, there was a stage of closing, there was a stage where we needed to advertise the attendance registers. We did that,” Mahlambi said.

“Now is the stage where we have advertised publicly the intention to award so that we allow anyone who’s got issues to raise those issues. So, as the department of education we are not alarmed by the issues that have been raised because this stage is for that reason. So, we have faith in the processes and mechanisms that Treasury has put in place in dealing with such matters.”

Last week, Hlomuka denied allegations of political interference and personal enrichment linked to the tender.

Responding to claims made by the NSNP Service Providers Association, the MEC acknowledged past ties with a company allegedly implicated in the current tender award, but said he had divested years before taking office.

“In 2015, when I was not in government, I registered a company. However, I’m no longer part of that company and I’m not aware of its activities. If it has received any tenders, that information will come out in the investigation,” Hlomuka said.

The MEC emphasised that as the political head of the department, he was not involved in the supply chain management process and had never sat on a tender adjudication panel.

The association claims to have evidence of deliberate procurement manipulation and has submitted complaints to provincial authorities.

Ntuli has vowed to act swiftly and transparently, assuring the public there will be a full update before the end of the week.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lungile Ntimba

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality has called on the Free State education department to account for the worsening state of school infrastructure in Qwaqwa, citing alarming conditions observed during an oversight visit.

DA councillor Paseka Mokoena said the party visited Boitsebelo Junior Technical School, which was shut down in June 2023 with the intention of converting it into a special needs school. 

However, he said no visible progress has been made on the project and the facility had since become a target for vandalism and unlawful occupation. 

“We witnessed firsthand the deterioration of buildings that could still serve the community meaningfully,” Mokoena said in a statement on Monday.

“This is not an isolated case; many schools across the Qwaqwa area have suffered a similar fate, abandoned and stripped.”

In Matsieng village, Mokoena said one school had been destroyed to such an extent that there was no visible evidence it had ever existed. 

He said Makabelane Technical High School was another example of neglect.

The school still hosted camps for Grade 12 learners, but its adjacent hostel remained vandalised and partially occupied by unknown individuals and companies.

Following the oversight visit, Mokoena said the DA had submitted formal questions through its representatives in the Free State legislature, demanding clarity on the status and future of the affected schools.

The party is seeking answers on why the hostel at Makabelane Technical High School has not been rehabilitated, how many schools in Qwaqwa have been shut down due to neglect, whether these properties have been returned to the provincial department of infrastructure, and what plans exist to restore or repurpose the abandoned buildings.

“We believe that infrastructure, such as Boitsebelo, can be best transformed into a skills development centre, offering alternative education and vocational training for young people who struggle with formal schooling,” Mokoena added.

He said such a facility could provide accredited programmes to empower youth and contribute to addressing the high unemployment and poverty rates in the area.

Sibusiso Majola, who is the spokesperson for education MEC Mantlhake Julia Maboya, told Inside Education that Maboya has not yet received the formal questions from the DA.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Levy Masiteng

The Eskom Expo for Young Scientists is currently in full swing across the country, with regional science fairs taking place in 35 regions. 

The annual event provides a platform for learners to showcase their innovative ideas, scientific research and problem-solving skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI).

The Gauteng South Regional Science Fair took place at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Soweto campus over the weekend. 

Raven Motswebangwe, the project manager for Gauteng, said close to 200 projects were judged, with learners going through interview phases with specialised judges. 

The Basic Education Department said the fair was part of a series of events happening across the country during July and August.

The Eskom Expo said the event had been taking place since 1980. It provided pupils with the opportunity to share their unique projects, discover the joys of scientific thinking and compete for exciting awards both locally and internationally. 

This year’s participants were pre-selected after taking part in various expo activities.

These included workshops designed to elevate scientific skills, as well as mandatory district expos where young scientists received expert guidance and insights into conducting impactful research investigations.

“By cultivating interest and excellence in STEMI from an early age, the Eskom Expo not only develops individual potential, but also contributes to the broader goals of economic growth, innovation and social equity,” said Eskom Development Foundation acting CEO Mologadi Motshele.

“These young scientists are the future problem solvers who will address the challenges of energy, climate change, healthcare, food security, and digital transformation.”

Over 6000 projects will be showcased across the country. They explore vital topics such as environmental science with sustainable practices, advancements in health and medical technology, robotics for designing autonomous machines and data science for uncovering insights from complex data.

The winners will compete at Eskom Expo International Science Fair from 6 to 10 October. 

The ISF participants stand a chance of winning a multitude of prizes, bursaries and a chance to be selected to showcase their projects at international science fairs in the US, Asia, Europe and the rest of Africa.

“These regional science fairs are the first step to our young scientists engaging with professionals in a meaningful way, which will further develop their research ideas and innovations,” said Eskom Expo executive director Parthy Chetty.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Levy Masiteng

The Gauteng education department has officially opened online admissions for Grade 1 and Grade 8 placements for the 2026 academic year, and many parents are feeling anxious about securing a spot for their child. 

However, Tieho Mokoena, who is the principal at SPARK Turffontein in the south of Johannesburg, said that with some planning and preparation, the online application process could be manageable.

She advised parents to start by visiting a school’s website to understand the application process and required documents. 

“You cannot delay your application until the end of the year to secure a spot for your child in the school of your choice,” Mokoena said. 

She shared five tips to help parents navigate the school application process.

They included visiting the school website to understand the application process and required documents, double checking your application for accuracy and submitting required documents and making payments to secure a spot.

Parents and guardians must check on the progress of the application and visit the school to learn about its values and environment to see if the child will fit in.

“The application process might feel daunting, but if parents and guardians do a little homework and preparation, the process should go much smoother,” Mokoena said.

The online application for Gauteng opened on 24 July and closes at midnight on 29 August.

The department said that on the first day it had already processed 213,000 Grade 1 and Grade 8 online applications.

Education MEC Matome Chiloane advised parents to take advantage of the system as it allowed them to identify schools within the feeder zones covering their home address.

“Selecting schools within the correct feeder zones improves the chances of securing placement closer to home and helps reduce daily travel distances for learners,” he reiterated.

To improve the likelihood of placement, parents are required to apply to at least three schools and may apply to a maximum of five. 

All necessary documents must be submitted or uploaded within seven days of the application. 

The department said parents requiring help could visit their nearest district office or one of the 81 decentralised walk-in centres across Gauteng. 

INSIDE EDUCATION