ELIJAH MHLANGA | Challenges to SA's education system remain, but much has been done

As I exit the basic education sector I find myself reflecting on the journey I have been involved in as we sought to transform the education system in a democratic South Africa.

The split of the education portfolio in 2009 from one department of education into two, resulting in the establishment of the department of basic education and higher education and training, was, in my view, the single most important decision taken at the time. 

This was to allow greater focus in each sector. This division was made to address the distinct needs of basic and higher education, providing a more dedicated leadership and policy development for each level.

Minister Angie Motshekga was appointed the first minister of basic education and she would lead the sector for three full terms, that is 15 unbroken years of service in one portfolio. The purpose of this piece is to reflect on the work done during that period because I spent 13 of the 15 years with Motshekga as she led the sector in which everybody has an interest.   

When she assumed office in 2009 it was only the second year of the revamped National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams, introduced in 2008, which initially led to a significant drop in successful grade 12 passes, casting doubt on the ability to maintain the pre-2008 upward trend. This NSC revamp is the same one that created confusion to the extent that some people believe the “pass mark was lowered to 30%” which is factually incorrect. I have dealt with this adequately elsewhere.    

At that time there was no indication of learning outcome improvements below grade 12, as evidenced by South Africa's participation in three international assessments: The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study for grade 9, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study for grades 4 and 5 and the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality for grade 6.

A lot has happened since then. It was under Motshekga’s leadership that deliberate and courageous actions and policy changes and interventions rooted in research were implemented, resulting in the systemic improvements. The NSC pass rate has consistently risen from 60% in 2009 to 87.3% in 2024. 

The upward trend in NSC achievements from 2009 to 2020 is evident, with passes increasing from 335,000 to 441,000, marking a 32% jump. NSCs with a bachelor's endorsement grew even more rapidly. Including similar qualifications, the rate of South African youths completing 12 years of education climbed from 47% to 59%, smoothing the transition from school to further life stages for many.

Stats SA surveys reveal education access for seven to 15-year-olds has improved significantly and is now nearly universal. Early childhood development opportunities have also increased: less than 40% of five-year-olds attended educational institutions in 2002, compared with almost 90% recently.

Driving these educational improvements were enhanced teaching strategies, supported by key factors: pupils starting grade 1 with more pre-schooling; the introduction of the clear Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement  between 2012 and 2014; a focused effort on early mastery of basics; improved classroom material access and more teachers, notably younger ones, with university training.   

Improvements in basic education have led to more people qualifying for university and completing higher education. Since 2008, the number of bachelor-level passes in NSC exams has tripled and undergraduate degree completions have doubled since 2009.

Beyond educational outcomes, school infrastructure has seen significant improvement. The 1996 Schools Register of Needs study found less than half of the schools had adequate facilities. However, the 2022 School Monitoring Survey shows substantial advancements: 87% now have proper toilets, 81% have access to running water and 93% have electricity, indicating marked system improvements.

There is also a wide range of care and support programmes nowadays that have contributed to pupils' wellbeing and mitigated the effects of poverty in poor households. These include pupil transport, no-fee schools, fee-exemptions for needy children in fee-charging schools, and the National School Nutrition Programme, through which more than 9.6-million children receive a nutritious meal, daily.

None of this is to say everything is perfect or to justify the ongoing inequalities in the system, but we must be able to hold a more nuanced picture of reality that there can be ongoing problems and improvements simultaneously.   

Despite initial pessimism, South Africa's resilient spirit and government commitment to education have yielded progress, with challenges remaining but successes celebrated and weaknesses tackled for a brighter national future.

In the last years of Motshekga’s term in office she dedicated time to the strengthening of the foundations for learning including the all-important mother tongue-based bilingual education.

It is also pleasing to observe that minister Siviwe Gwarube has made literacy and numeracy her priorities as the journey towards basic education transformation continues.

Elijah Mhlanga is the former chief director for communications at the department of basic education.