President Cyril Ramaphosa said that South Africa’s education system can only succeed if learners acquire strong literacy and numeracy skills in the early years of schooling where the foundations for all future learning are laid: “Let us make foundational learning the heartbeat of our education system,” he urged whist delivering his Basic Education Sector Lekgotla address at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni on 21 January 2026.
The President’s address commenced on a sombre note, with delegates observing a moment of silence for the pupils who lost their lives in a scholar transport accident in Vanderbijlpark earlier this week. The President has called for urgent and coordinated action to improve scholar transport safety, particularly in rural areas and townships: “Our children are the future, and they are the most prized possession that we have as a nation”.
The President emphasised that strengthening early grade reading and numeracy was both a national priority and a moral imperative, adding that Government was intensifying its focus on evidence-based teaching of literacy and numeracy, teacher training and access to quality learning materials.
President Ramaphosa noted the progress made; however, whilst there is much focus on matric results, solid foundations are essential and must prepare learners for a skills revolution. He described the achievements of the Class of 2025 as a “silent revolution”, particularly the increased participation of learners from no-fee schools in higher education.
“In line with the commitments made during the 2025 State of the Nation Address, we gather here to reaffirm our collective resolve to quality and inclusive education”, he added, whilst advising the sector to build on the success of the National School Nutrition Programme that nourishes the minds and bodies of close to 10 million learners across our country: “Good nutrition strengthens punctuality, attendance, concentration, resilience and overall well-being”.
The President reminded the sector: “Since 1996, our Constitution has enshrined multilingualism as a social, educational and economic norm. By the end of 2025, nearly 12,000 schools had access to Mother Tongue-based Bilingual Education (MTbBE)”. He encouraged the Department to continue to work at expanding teacher training in appropriate methodologies, ensuring curriculum and assessment alignment, and integrating language development across literacy and numeracy. In addition, teachers must have access to high-quality professional development that equips them for a rapidly changing world. “We are working to ensure that every classroom is supported by a coherent curriculum and well-trained teachers, and that every classroom has high-quality, age-appropriate, grade-specific and culturally relevant learning and teaching support materials,” he said.
“By confronting the literacy crisis, restoring the dignity and value of all home languages, strengthening foundational learning, and investing in teachers and enabling environments, we are laying a firmer foundation for learner success. In doing so, we are not only transforming education, we are building a resilient, inclusive and future-ready education system worthy of all our children,” the President concluded.