The Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, hosted the 2nd Partnerships for Education Business Dinner, an outcomes-driven engagement at the UCT Graduate School of Business at the Waterfront in Cape Town on 18 March 2026. The event is an annual gathering that brings together leaders from business, education, and civil society to reflect on progress achieved through collaborative initiatives and to renew a shared commitment to improving the quality of education in South Africa. The event also served as a strategic platform to align priorities, deepen collaboration, and mobilise additional support for key interventions aimed at improving learning outcomes. Basic Education Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, welcomed delegates to the event, steered by Programme Director, Mr Neptal Khoza, Head of Market Development at Santam.
In her address, Minister Gwarube said that the future of South Africa’s education system depends on a strong and enduring partnership between government, business, civil society and communities behind a shared national mission. “I took the decision to host the Partnerships for Education Business Dinner out of a growing conviction that improving education outcomes is the single most important long-term investment we can make in South Africa’s economic future. Over the past year, private-sector organisations and philanthropic partners have supported the Department in critical areas. Partners have helped improve school infrastructure and safety. They have backed teacher development, including digital learning, STEM education and modern pedagogy. They have helped elevate and celebrate learner achievement. And they have supported initiatives that recognise the outstanding educators who shape the future of this country every day. Each of these contributions matters, strengthening the education ecosystem”.
The Minister reported on the progress made on the commitments and the role that partners have played: “Firstly, South Africa achieved an 88% matric pass rate, the highest in the history of our democracy. That milestone, together with other improvements on quality indicators, reflects the dedication of our teachers, school leaders, learners and parents across the country. Secondly, we successfully operationalised the National Education and Training Council for the first time in South Africa’s history. This advisory body brings together expertise to help guide the long-term strategic direction of the education system. It is an important step towards ensuring that education policy is informed by evidence, shaped by expertise and aligned with the evolving needs of our economy and society. Thirdly, we have committed R10 billion in support of Early Childhood Development over the next three years. This represents one of the most significant investments ever made in the foundational years of learning”.
Minister Gwarube highlighted the new Outcomes-Based Fund, co-funded by National Treasury together with the LEGO Foundation, Yellowwoods and This Day, FirstRand, the Standard Bank Tutuwa Community Foundation and the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust: “We have mobilised R496 million to create 115,000 additional Early Childhood Development (ECD) spaces in rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape. We also undertook the Bana Pele Mass Registration Campaign for Early Childhood Development centres. Our original target was to register 10,000 ECD centres by 31 December 2025 and we exceeded that target significantly, reaching 13,300 registrations, 133% of target. This means that more than 150,000 children are now accessing the ECD subsidy through these centres. In addition, South Africa has now achieved 99% eradication of pit latrines identified in the 2018 SAFE Initiative audit. We have also begun the rollout of mother-tongue-based bilingual assessments in Grade 4 Mathematics, Science and Technology”.
Minister Gwarube participated in a panel discussion on “Education for the Future: A Collaborative Approach” discussion on impact through partnership with the DBE. Participants included Ms Ray-ann Sedres from the Sanlam Foundation and Mr Mzila Mthenjane, Minerals Council SA. Mr Khulekani Mathe, National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) Trustee, facilitated the discussion. UCT Vice Chancellor, Prof Mosa Moshabela addressed delegates after which the DBE and the NECT discussed the way forward.
The Partnerships for Education initiative underscores the Department’s belief that meaningful progress in education requires sustained collaboration between Government and the private sector. “Your investment in early learning, reading programmes, teacher training, research, digital infrastructure, school leadership development and safer learning environments can transform the trajectory of millions of children. Let us build a partnership measured not by meetings held, but by lives changed; not by promises made, but by outcomes delivered,” concluded Minister Gwarube.