The monitoring of the implementation of Circular S28 of 2023 on Inclusive Education continues to stimulate a series of engagements between the Department of Basic Education (DBE)’s National Inclusive Education Task Team and various provincial education stakeholders in the country. The National Inclusive Education Task Team and Western Cape Provincial Task Team held a successful engagement session in Cape Town from 26-27 August 2025.
The engagement served as a build-up to a series of provincial meetings to strengthen Inclusive Education (this being the third in a series of provincial collaborations). The engagements seek to advance the placement of learners with disabilities from special care centres into ordinary public schools in alignment with Circular S28 of 2023, to ensure that national policy is translated into meaningful practice on the ground.
On the first day, Ms Christine Banyini, Deputy Director for Inclusive Education at the DBE, highlighted the key objectives of the two-day engagement, clarifying foundational concepts of inclusive education for a shared and common understanding as well as the provision of a platform for Provinces to share best practices and challenges. She acknowledged the different approaches by respective Provinces, however, underscored the importance of Provinces implementing inclusive education in line with recognized protocols and standards.
Mr Jabulani Ngcobo, Director of Inclusive Education, provided a valuable presentation, which included an interactive exercise that gauged participants’ common understanding of Inclusive Education (which is a concept that is often misunderstood). He further presented the legislative framework and protocols supporting Inclusive Education e.g., Circular S28 of 2023 (which entails placement of learners from care centers to public school).
The final day of the engagement, held at the Eros Special School for learners with mild to profound disabilities, involved a wider group consisting of 391 principals. The participants found the promotion of Circular S28 of 2023 as the right step towards addressing any form of the inclusive education challenges, including limited access to quality education for learners with special needs. Participants witnessed firsthand a wide range of learning needs catered for within a Special School. Mr Ngcobo reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to the placement of learners with disabilities and assured Task Team members that Special Schools will be re-modeled into resource centres that provide vital support to ordinary schools. Ms Banyini highlighted: - “We are here to witness inclusive education in practice - moving from theory to practice”.
The Western Cape engagement has demonstrated DBE’s unwavering commitment to creating an inclusive schooling system where no learner is left behind. The sector is paving the way to a more equitable and accessible education system. On reflection on the two-day engagement, the DBE and Westen Cape Task Teams shared similar sentiments that an inclusion is a shared journey between the DBE and the Province. Westen Cape Province remains steadfast and committed to the placement of out-of-school learners with disabilities in ordinary public schools in alignment with Circular S 28 of 2023.