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By Johnathan Paoli
The DA has praised the Western Cape Education Department as South Africa’s leader in education, following the province’s impressive haul of 21 awards at the National Education Excellence Awards.
The achievement comes alongside efforts to protect thousands of teaching jobs amid national budgetary pressures.
The party’s Western Cape education spokesperson, Peter Johnson, said the province’s success reflects both systemic excellence and the dedication of its learners and educators.
“These incredible achievements once again demonstrate that the Western Cape continues to set the standard for education excellence in South Africa,” said Johnson.
“Sweeping awards in Mathematics, Physical Science, and Accounting shows that the DA-led WCED is ensuring that learners who exit our schooling system are well-equipped to contribute to the progress of our province.”
The awards ceremony, held at the Sandton Convention Centre on Friday, 29 August 2025, celebrated outstanding teaching and learning achievements across the country.
The Western Cape dominated the event, securing top honours in key categories such as Mathematics, Physical Science, and Accounting, subjects central to building a skilled workforce capable of driving economic growth and innovation.
Among the standout awards won by the province’s education districts were: Highest NSC Mathematics Passes 60% and above (2022–2024), Highest NSC Participation vs Achievement in Mathematics (2022–2024), Highest NSC Physical Science Passes 60% and above (2022–2024), Highest NSC Participation vs Achievement in Physical Science (2022–2024), and Highest NSC Accounting Passes 60% and above (2022–2024).
The Western Cape also led in ensuring broad participation and achievement across these critical gateway subjects.
Johnson added that every accolade was the product of immense effort from school communities.
“Behind every award are learners, teachers, principals and officials who work tirelessly to achieve success, often under challenging circumstances,” he said.
The DA’s praise for the department did not stop at academic outcomes.
The party welcomed the announcement that the province will retain its Basket of Posts allocation of 35 934 teaching posts for the 2026 school year.
This move comes against the backdrop of severe national fiscal constraints, with provincial education departments across South Africa being forced to cut staff, freeze posts, or consolidate classes due to dwindling budgets.
For the Western Cape, however, the decision provides teachers and learners with much-needed stability as enrolment continues to grow.
Johnson described the retention of posts as a “significant victory” that highlighted the province’s ability to “do more with less”.
“The Western Cape continues to face enormous pressure as thousands of learners move here every year. Retaining over 35 000 teaching posts is a victory for teachers and learners alike, and a clear sign that the DA-run Western Cape is doing more with less to keep education strong, despite national fiscal constraints,” he said.
The Western Cape remains one of South Africa’s fastest-growing provinces, attracting families in search of economic opportunities and more reliable public services.
This influx has increased the demand for classrooms, teachers, and learner support programmes such as school nutrition, transport, and specialised education for children with disabilities.
The DA has positioned the Western Cape’s dual achievements of academic excellence and job protection as evidence of its governance model in action.
While learners benefit from award-winning teaching and improved access to high-demand subjects, teachers and support staff are also assured of job security, which in turn strengthens classroom performance.
Johnson stressed that this balance was deliberate, saying the DA-led provincial government will continue to ensure that teachers are supported, classrooms are adequately staffed, and learners receive the opportunities they need to thrive.
As South Africa grapples with economic stagnation, rising unemployment, and fiscal belt-tightening, the DA argues that the Western Cape’s education trajectory offers a glimpse of what a focused, outcomes-driven approach can achieve.
The party has made it clear that it will use the province’s success as both a political platform and a governance benchmark in its broader national campaign.
INSIDE EDUCATION