Basic Education Minister, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, accompanied by senior DBE officials, presented the DBE’s fourth quarter performance report for 2024/25 to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on 13 May 2025. The report highlighted that 94% of performance indicators were met, showcasing effective management despite fiscal constraints. Ms Stella Mosimege, Chief Director for Strategic Planning, Research, Evaluation and Monitoring, presented the report on the Department's performance, whilst CFO, Mr Pat Khunou, delivered the presentation on the budget.

“Our key achievements include the improved National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results and the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Bana Pele Mass Registration Drive, which was officially launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 17 March 2025, to ensure universal access to ECD. In addition, the Department remains committed to the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA Act), to ensure that the regulations for the amendments to the South African Schools Act, 1996 are published for public comment by June 2025,” said the Minister.

Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, presented an update on the G20 Provincial Indabas, inviting the Committee to participate in taking the G20 to the people. Director-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli, briefed the Committee on his bi-annual engagements with provinces, as well as his ongoing provincial learner support programme across all 75 education districts.

Mr Seliki Tlhabane, Chief Director for MST & Curriculum Enhancement Programmes, reported on the concern that 482 schools were not offering Mathematics in Grade 12, including 10 technical high schools and 10 schools with Learners for Special Education Needs. Policy dictates that a class size is made up of at least 35 learners. He indicated that schools with 70 learners or more in Grade 12 should at least offer one class of Mathematics. Of the identified 482 schools not offering Mathematics, 427 are small and non-viable schools. Out of the 55 schools with more than 70 learners in Grade 12, 35 came from the Western Cape, whilst 20 came from the other provinces put together. The presentation also included a provincial breakdown, showing varying numbers of schools across different education districts. The DBE will be collaborating with provinces and districts to address these challenges, including strategies for the closure and merger of small and non-viable schools. “Geographical location should not determine the future of our children. There are examples and models that we should follow in this regard, such examples are in Free State and North West where Mega Farm Schools were created. We are, however, reaping the fruits from our Strategy for Mathematics with success rates improving,” DG Mweli added.

“The legacy of a fragmented education system remains, with communities in far-flung rural areas and farm schools being classified as unviable when thy have less than 120 learners, and people migrating to the cities searching for economic opportunities, affecting the provision of teachers and subjects in schools. We as Government, are reactive in consolidating schools and to provide school transport for learners not to be left behind. It is essential to provide STEM subjects at an early age; the DBE is therefore engaged in the strategic reorientation of the system for learners in the Foundation Phase to have access to quality Literacy, Numeracy and Reading skills for learners to be more confident and have a strong grasp of the subject for better career opportunities,” Minister Gwarube concluded.