Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga admitted there were 4,303 unqualified teachers teaching in KwaZulu-Natal schools, says the Democratic Alliance.

"Minister Motshekga as well as KZN [education] MEC Senzo Mchunu should hang their heads in shame that their departments continue to condemn some 172,000 pupils taught by these unqualified teachers in mainly impoverished schools," DA MP Alf Lees said in a statement on Friday.

"When will the ANC get serious about providing all South African children with the opportunity of a globally competitive education?"

He said the African National Congress, after 17 years of democracy, was good at making statements about how well it was doing with the education of South African children from disadvantaged backgrounds, but the reality was the complete opposite.

The department of basic education was not immediately available for comment.