The DBE, this week, briefed the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on its first and second quarterly reports for the 2025/26 Financial Year. In her statement, Basic Education Minister, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, indicated that “this reporting cycle is critical as it reflects not only the impact of our implementation, but also the reforms that we are driving to strengthen accountability to improve data quality and ensure that the work of the Department directly advances learner outcomes. This year marks an important transition in the way in which we plan and report; the Department has increased the number of quarterly indicators from 8 during the previous year to 24. We have also improved alignment with the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) and the Action Plan to 2029 for improved performance tracking. This is a deliberate shift towards transparency and improved monitoring”.

Committee Chairperson, Ms Joy Maimela, highlighted the significance of these reports for oversight and accountability, whilst tracking performance against targets and resource allocation. She noted the absence of significant disruptions during the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, a positive development for the education sector. In addition, Ms Maimela acknowledged the commencement of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign, emphasising the need for increased government efforts in respect of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

The Minister flagged several key highlights. These include the submission of the Annual Financial Statements on time; the Workplace Skills Plan; the finalisation of the Annual Training Plan; and internal capacity building programmes, which have been continuing at scale in Programme 1. At Administrative level, the Department is strengthening strategic planning and monitoring tools to support data driven support decision making. Progress was made on advancing curriculum; the Second Chance Matric Programme which supports more than 5,000 learners; and Workbooks for 2026 have been delivered across all provinces, which is a significant logistical milestone in Programme 2, Curriculum, Policy, Support and Monitoring. In Programme 3, Teachers, Education Human Resources and Institutional Development, work has been continuing on Post Provisioning Management; teacher development; the Funza Lushaka placements; and the implementation of the quality management system. Standard Operating Procedures for dealing with educators appearing on the National Sexual Offenders Register and the National Child Protection Register has now also been rolled out to districts managers, reinforcing our commitment to learner safety to address sexual offences in schools. Under Programme 4, Planning, Information and Assessment, the DBE completed preparations for the new Grade 4 Mother Tongue-based Bilingual Education assessment; the verification of the Early National Assessment Data Set; and strengthened our SASAMS data quality controls. Infrastructure work also progressed including sanitation projects and support for 582 underperforming secondary schools. Under Programme 5, Educational Enrichment Services, the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) remained operational; the revised DBE and South African Police Service (SAPS) Safety Protocol was signed; and the monitoring of the National Safety Framework continued across all districts. In terms of expenditure, the Department has spent R21 billion during the first half of the year, with the majority, more than 85% allocated to transfer payments of Conditional Grants required by the education sector.

The Minister said that “whilst progress has been made, the remaining challenges include ongoing budget pressures impacting on infrastructure delivery norms and standards, data quality issues in some provinces, system requirement and retention pressures, and the need for strengthened psychosocial support for learners. The DBE is addressing these through targeted interventions”. The Minister added that the Committee’s continued oversight is essential to the Department’s work and the Ministry remains fully accountable to constructive engagement with Parliament.

Ms Nosipho Mbonambi, Director for Strategic Planning provided an in-depth overview of the DBE’s performance indicators for the first two quarters with Q1 and Q2 targets respectively achieved at 88% and 77%. Key indicators that were not fully achieved included the implementation of African languages and the monitoring of multi-grade classes, although the department is on track to meet its annual targets. Mr Pat Khunou, DDG for Finance and Administration reported that the total appropriation budget for the 2025/26 Financial Year amounts to R35.489 billion, indicating that 85% of the budget is allocated to grants and transfers. He mentioned that some spending is lower than expected due to pending invoices and the wrapping up of infrastructure projects.

In conclusion, Minister Gwarube echoed the sentiments expressed about the 16 Days of Activism Campaign as schools have become targets of such incidents: “We are working to improve our systems to ensure that we protect children from sexual predators and that those who are not fit to work with children are removed from the sector”. The Minister expressed her gratitude to the Committee for their ongoing support during the NSC examination period.