basic education Archives - Voice of the Cape

Minister Gwarube Highlights Boost in ECD Funding as Key Education Priority

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has emphasised the importance of funding Early Childhood Development (ECD), describing it as one of the department’s five key priorities for the years ahead. According to Gwarube, the ECD Conditional Grant for the 2025–2026 fiscal year has been increased to more than R1.7 billion. Of this amount, R162 million will be allocated to upgrading infrastructure at ECD centres across the country, while over R230 million […]

15 July 2025

Local

Expert says quality of education in SA leaves much to be desired

Since apartheid ended in 1994, there have been substantial changes in South African education. Millions of students' access to and quality of education is impacted by the many issues that still exist in the system despite efforts to change it. VOC News spoke to education activist Hendrick Makenata to determine his views on education and the quality of education offered to South African learners “If you look at the trends […]

4 February 2025

Local

Section27 warns budget cuts will undermine education gains in South Africa

By Ragheema Mclean Civil society organisation Section27 has raised alarms over the impending budget cuts, warning that they could severely reverse progress made in South Africa’s education sector. The organisation expressed its concern following Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube’s grim update on the sector’s financial difficulties, highlighting that several provincial Education Departments are expected to face significant budget shortfalls in the coming years. Last week, Gwarube said that by the […]

30 September 2024

Local

Minister proposes review of Grade 12 pass mark, expert weighs in

By Lee-Yandra Paulsen The Minister of Basic Education has announced plans to review the Grade 12 pass mark, currently set at 30%. Additionally, the minister revealed plans to establish an advisory council comprising key stakeholders and experts to assess and potentially raise the pass mark. Speaking to VOC Breakfast on Monday, Professor Aslam Fataar from the Department of Education Policy Studies at Stellenbosch University, a Research and Development Professor attached […]

22 July 2024

Local

State of basic education in SA: Equal Education’s Tarryn Cooper-Bell

South Africa will commemorate the 16 June 1976 Soweto youth uprising today. It has been 47 years since hundreds of young people were killed by the apartheid government police for protesting against the use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in secondary schools. This year the day is celebrated under the theme “Accelerating youth economic emancipation for a sustainable future”. The state of SA’s basic education has been a cause […]

16 June 2023

Local

Basic Education Department monitoring the start of the 2022 matric exams

Matriculants at Nellmapius Secondary School in Mamelodi, Pretoria say they are ready to tackle the 2022 examinations. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is visiting the school along with Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to assess the readiness. The school obtained an average pass rate of 79% in the last year. Nerves and anxiety are keenly evident as matric learners at Nellmapius Secondary School sit for their final examinations. Despite the nerves, […]

31 October 2022

Local

Urgent interventions needed to address challenges faced by Basic Education: Mabuza

LOCAL The country cannot move forward unless there are urgent interventions to address the Department of Basic Education’s challenges, says Deputy President David Mabuza in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council. Mabuza was delivering opening remarks at the HRDC meeting held in Sedibeng TVET College on Thursday. The college is credited for offering Mechatronics as a full course that integrates mechanical, telecommunication and computer engineering. […]

9 September 2022

Local

Early childhood development centres now fall under Department of Basic Education

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said the residential proclamation transferring Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres to the Department of Basic Education had been passed. Zulu gave an update on her department's response to level 4 adjusted lockdown. This will now allow the administration, powers and functions of the ECD sector to be transferred to Basic Education. ECD centres have come under the spotlight with a surge in child abuse incidents, […]

3 July 2021

Local

Judgement over re-write of matric papers expected Friday

Basic Education says it has full confidence in the justice system after arguments were heard in an application in the High Court in Pretoria challenging the decision that two leaked matric exam papers be rewritten. Teachers Union, Sadtu, Afriforum and Independent pupils brought the application on an urgent basis. The two papers in question are Physical Science paper 2 and Mathematics paper 2. The parties are seeking an urgent court […]

11 December 2020

basic education

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