The DBE’s Education Management Information System (EMIS) Directorate, in collaboration with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT), hosted a three-day, end-to-end User Acceptance Testing (UAT) engagement at the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) Auditorium in Centurion, Gauteng Province from 2 to 4 February 2026. The engagement brought together education stakeholders from provincial, district, and circuit levels to test, validate, and strengthen the modernised SA-SAMS platform ahead of its phased national pilot and implementation across public schools.

Opening the engagement, Ms Ayesha Suleman, Director for Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) at the DBE, emphasised the importance of developing reliable, user-centred digital systems that reflect the operational realities of schools. She highlighted that the SA-SAMS modernisation programme is a strategic reform initiative aimed at improving administrative efficiency, strengthening data integrity, and enabling accurate, real-time reporting to support evidence-based decision-making across the education system.

“The modernisation of SA-SAMS is not just about technology; it is about improving how schools function on a daily basis. The system is designed to support principals, educators, and school administrators by simplifying processes, reducing administrative burden, and ensuring that education data is accurate, credible, and accessible,” she said. Ms Suleman further noted that the User Acceptance Testing process is a critical milestone in ensuring the system is fit for purpose prior to the pilot of the system in selected primary schools, as part of the staggered approach that is adopted, working towards the national rollout. The engagement provided an opportunity for end users to directly influence system functionality through practical testing and structured feedback. While the system is being readied for the primary school pilot, the functions relevant for high schools is being developed by the NECT, being responsible for delivery of the technical modernised SA-SAMS.

The engagement forms part of the modernised SA-SAMS project, a cloud-based school administration and management system intended to streamline administrative processes and strengthen data management across public schools nationally. The UAT sessions focused on assessing system functionality, usability, and implementation readiness, informed by school, district, and provincial-level operational requirements. Participants included Provincial Education Department EMIS officials, school principals, Heads of Department, educators, and school administrators, with support from partner organisations such as the New Leaders Foundation (NLF) and the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).

Following the UAT engagement, the DBE and NECT will consolidate feedback, implement system enhancements, and roll out targeted training and change-management support for educators and administrators. This process marks an important step towards a more efficient, responsive, and data-driven education system that empowers schools, strengthens accountability, and supports improved teaching and learning outcomes across South Africa.