The Inclusive Education Stakeholders Meeting, held at the Department of Basic Education in Pretoria on 9 December 2025, brought together key national partners, including representatives of organisations representing persons with disabilities, officials from the DBE and Provincial Education Departments (PEDs), and the University of Johannesburg, committed to advancing the vision that “Every Learner Matters”. Chaired by Mr Jabulani Ngcobo, Director for Inclusive Education, the meeting served as a strategic platform to review progress, share interventions, and strengthen collaborative efforts across the education sector.
Ms Christinah Banyini, Acting Chief Education Specialist: Inclusive Education, outlined the purpose of the meeting, emphasising the need to share concrete interventions for advancing inclusive education and to identify areas where collaboration is essential to accelerating implementation.
The substantive session began with a detailed report from Dr Rannosi Motene on progress made in the provision of ICT devices and systems in special schools. Stakeholders engaged in a focused discussion on the opportunities and persistent barriers in ensuring effective ICT integration for learners with diverse needs. This was followed by a presentation from Mr Ramasedi Mafoko on infrastructure improvements in special schools, highlighting both achievements and the continued challenges relating to accessibility, safety, and adequacy of facilities.
A teacher, accompanied by the school principal, Ms Karen Swart, from Prinshof School for the Blind presented on Braille literacy teaching aimed at expanding access for blind and partially sighted learners. This presentation underscored the importance of specialised resources, trained personnel, and the need for sustained investment in braille literacy technologies. Mr David Silman complemented this with a presentation on strengthening the teaching of STEM subjects for blind and partially sighted learners. The meeting agreed that there is a need to look into existing examples of good practice already available in many schools to strengthen this area.
The meeting then turned to an update on Learning and Teaching Support Materials (LTSM), presented by Mr Sifiso Sibiya. Stakeholders deliberated extensively on procurement processes, quality assurance, and timely delivery of materials, noting that LTSM remains a foundational pillar for inclusive education.
In the final session, the Chairperson outlined the way forward, stressing the importance of coordinated follow-up actions, strengthened intergovernmental collaboration, and a renewed commitment to addressing systemic challenges.
The next Inclusive Education Stakeholders Meeting is scheduled for 9 March 2026.