The DBE will be convening a School Governing Body (SGB) Associations Conference at the Garden Court OR Tambo International Airport in the Gauteng Province from 27 to 28 November 2025. SGB Associations play a crucial role in strengthening school governance, promoting accountability, and enhancing stakeholder participation in the basic education sector.

The Conference will bring together both existing and new SGB Associations, along with key education partners.

Dr Matlhodi Motsepe from the Education Management and Governance Development Directorate, explained that “the aim of the Conference is to promote a shared understanding of the Founding Document guiding the establishment, roles and functions of SGB Associations across all provinces, reaffirm the role of SGB Associations in supporting participatory democracy, effective school management, and identify challenges and opportunities affecting the functionality of SGB Associations, and propose strategies for strengthening their operations.

During previous engagements it has become clear that there are inconsistencies, leading to misalignment in the functioning of these associations across all nine provinces, along with coherence in representation and advocacy.

The Conference will be held under the theme: “Strengthening School Governance Through Shared Understanding and Collaboration,” reinforcing the partnership between the Department and SGB Associations, thus fostering shared understanding and closer collaboration.