Dr Aaron Nkosi, Acting Chief Director: National institute and Curriculum and Professional Development (NICPD), has confirmed that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has been making headway in respect of laying the foundations for Focus Schools, also referred to as Schools of Specialisation (SoS). “These schools will, as part of the Three Stream Model (TSM), contribute to the creation of multiple learning pathways (academic, vocational and occupational) across organising fields to ensure the diversification of subjects and the skills of South African learners for future employability. The three categories of schools include Public Ordinary Schools; Special Schools for learners with disabilities and special educational needs; and Focus Schools for learners with special talents,” he said.
The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) adopted the Guidelines for Focus Schools on 30 January 2026 and instructed the DBE to conduct an audit of all Focus Schools, which was presented to Heads of Education Departments Committee Meeting (HEDCOM) during August 2026, focusing on categories; eligible schools; and findings of the 429 schools audited across all 75 education districts. The audit indicates that only 9 schools are fully compliant (green), whilst 20 remain at enabling (amber) and 65 (red) at basic levels with the minimum requirements not yet met. It was suggested that the nine green schools should become demonstration schools to mentor amber and basic schools through twinning arrangements.
The Audit Report includes the following organising fields: Mathematics, Science and Technology; Agriculture; Engineering and Technology; Arts; Business; Maritime Studies; Hospitality and Tourism; Sports; and Aviation. The Focus School model relies heavily on technology, Information and Communication Technology, simulation and laboratories, but infrastructure and resources remain a challenge. This suggests that a differentiated and systemic intervention is required to ensure that these schools are adequately resourced and able to deliver quality vocational, occupational and specialised programmes.
The HEDCOM noted the findings of the national audit, along with the National Implementation Roadmap (2027–2032) for strengthening and expanding Schools of Specialisation. HEDCOM also supported the establishment of formal partnerships with TVET Colleges; universities; industry; SETAs; and professional councils to strengthen practical training, teacher development and learner pathways, as well as the mobilisation of sustainable funding through the MST Grant; the Education Infrastructure Grant (IEG); National Treasury; sector departments; SETAs; the National Skills Fund; the Industrial Development Corporation; and public-private partnerships.
Support was unanimous for the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Steering Committee to coordinate implementation and funding and endorse the adoption of Focus Schools by relevant government departments in line with their sector mandates and in their respective economic and social sectors, ensuring that specialised schools have the infrastructure, curriculum, equipment teacher expertise, industry exposure and learner pathways required to develop a pipeline of skilled young South Africans for further education, employment, entrepreneurship and national development.
Every Director-General will be expected to sign a statement of intent, as part of a formal DBE–Department Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Terms of Reference (ToR) to commit to five areas: Identify, adopt and formally support a defined group of Schools of Specialisation aligned to the department's mandate; Provide sector expertise, curriculum input, infrastructure, equipment and technology; Expose teachers and learners access to real workplaces, professionals, laboratories, facilities and industry environments; Create pathways to universities, connecting TVET colleges, SETAs, professional bodies, research institutions and employers; Track whether learners actually progress into further study, employment, entrepreneurship, innovation or professional careers. Each partnership will be launched formally, and an annual Sector Review will be established. The re-engineering and strengthening of Focus Schools in line with the TSM will ensure compliance to the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision for 2030 for the development of the skillsets needed for the 21st Century.