Browsing: Education & Training Opportunities

South Africa’s literacy crisis is deepening, with new national data showing that seven out of every 10 Foundation Phase learners cannot read at grade level in their home language. The findings have renewed concerns about learning outcomes, educational inequality and the long-term impact on the country’s economy. For Gauteng, which has the largest school population in South Africa, the statistics highlight a challenge that affects classrooms, families and future job prospects for millions of children.

South African pupils are entering the final weeks of the second school term, with winter school holidays set to begin at the end of June.

The Gauteng Department of Education has identified 245 Gauteng schools as high-risk following a province-wide assessment that found growing concerns around violence, bullying, substance abuse and vandalism in learning environments.

Thousands of former NSFAS beneficiaries who paid off their student NSFAS loans could be entitled to refunds after the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) identified historical overpayments linked to older loan accounts. The scheme announced this week that it is trying to trace former students, particularly those with loan accounts dating back to before 2010, who may have paid more than they owed due to historical interest calculation corrections.

Thousands of Gauteng public schools are expected to begin receiving delayed subsidy payments from June after the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) confirmed that funding scheduled for mid-May had not yet reached schools. The department says the delays affected schools expecting subsidy allocations under the National Norms and Standards for School Funding.

South Africa’s education and training system is undergoing a major transition after more than 1,100 outdated “legacy” qualifications were removed from the national qualifications register as part of a broader overhaul led by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).

Nearly half of Gauteng’s public schools are now operating beyond capacity, with more than 1 000 institutions exceeding their intended limits as enrolment continues to rise. The Gauteng schools crisis affects over 2.8 million pupils across the province and is most severe at secondary school level, where space shortages are growing.

The Department of Basic Education has released the full May to June 2026 National Senior Certificate exam timetable, with matric learners set to begin writing on Monday, 11 May. The schedule affects thousands of Grade 12 pupils across Gauteng, with exams running for over six weeks and concluding on Friday, 26 June. The timetable outlines morning and afternoon sessions across key subjects, marking a critical academic period that will shape final year outcomes and progression into tertiary education or employment.

Schools reopen on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, marking the official start of the second academic term. The reopening follows a short Easter break, with education authorities warning that the coming term will be academically demanding. The return affects millions of learners, educators, and parents, with schools expected to move quickly into a full curriculum schedule.

The Department of Basic Education has confirmed the official 2026 South African public school calendar, setting the academic year from 14 January to 9 December 2026. The calendar affects learners, parents, and educators across Gauteng and outlines 200 official school days across four terms. It also includes one special school holiday on 15 June 2026.