Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has urged the South African government to urgently reform the country’s education system, warning that the sector is in crisis and jeopardising the future of the nation’s children.

During her address in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate on Tuesday, February 11, Gwarube, representing the Democratic Alliance (DA), painted a grim picture of an education system weighed down by years of poor policy decisions and underfunding.

These systemic issues, she emphasised, have resulted in critical teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and an escalating struggle for parents to secure school placements for their children.

"Our education sector is in crisis, and this threatens not only the future of our schools but also South Africa’s greatest asset - our young people," Gwarube declared, adding that these realities make quality teaching and learning nearly impossible.

Her call for urgent, decisive reforms is aimed squarely at addressing these issues, with an emphasis on the need for substantial and well-funded solutions.

Gwarube appealed to the Minister of Finance, underscoring the need for proper funding to implement the necessary changes to stabilise the system.

Despite the challenges, Gwarube highlighted that the Department of Basic Education has made significant progress in recent months, shifting the focus towards improving early childhood education.

"Research shows that early childhood education yields powerful long-term benefits - not just for individuals but for our economy as a whole," she said.

Her speech emphasised the importance of providing every child with the best start in life through expanded access to Early Childhood Development (ECD), alongside a focus on training qualified educators.

A key initiative in addressing the teacher shortage, Gwarube highlighted the Funza Lushaka bursary scheme, which is prioritising the training of teachers specialising in foundation-phase education.

She also called for the review of post-provisioning norms to reduce overcrowded classrooms and ensure more manageable class sizes, which are crucial for improving learning outcomes.

Furthermore, she noted the need to update the National Catalogue of Learning and Teaching Materials, enhancing curriculum delivery to better equip teachers and students for success.

The Minister didn’t stop at addressing the education sector’s internal challenges but also turned her focus to the infrastructure issues plaguing many schools across the country.

Gwarube reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating all pit toilets identified in 2018 by March 2025, calling it a "moral imperative".

To further address safety concerns, she announced the launch of the Safe Schools app in partnership with Vodacom, a platform allowing communities to report unsafe school conditions, including toilets, and track the progress of infrastructure projects in real-time.

This, she said, is key to improving accountability and ensuring that students learn in safe and dignified environments.

In her address, Gwarube also touched on the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, assuring the public that it would be implemented in a way that protects learners, teachers, and schools.

She warned against the politicisation of the Act, emphasising that the focus should remain on its core mission: providing quality education for all.

She made it clear that she would not tolerate any attempts to distract her from this goal for political gain.

Looking forward, Gwarube discussed the formation of the National Education and Training Council, which will include experts from across the education sector to help guide the ongoing reforms.

The council will focus on strengthening the funding model for public schools, improving literacy and numeracy rates, integrating early childhood learning into the broader school system, and ensuring that learners are fully prepared for their futures through a review of pass rate requirements.

In her closing remarks, Gwarube issued a powerful call for unity, urging all stakeholders to act with urgency and conviction.

“If this GNU moves forward with the urgency and conviction required, we will bring greater stability, economic growth, and opportunity for all South Africans,” she said.

She emphasised that, unlike some opposition parties which, in her view, favour populism and economic ruin, the DA is fully committed to reforming the education system and securing a better future for the nation’s children.

“Let’s work together to build the education system South Africa deserves,” Gwarube concluded.

IOL politics