Basic Education Minister calls for private sector boost in education efforts

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The minister highlighted that the private sector has the resources, expertise, and capacity to make an enormous impact on the education landscape.

In addition, the country has seen more private sector entities involved in education initiatives investing in infrastructure, providing technology, supporting teacher training, and even partnering with educational institutions to design relevant, future-oriented curricula.

The minister was addressing the Partnerships for Education Business Breakfast held at the Johannesburg Council for The Disabled (JOCOD) in Lenasia on Monday.

The business breakfast was designed to foster meaningful dialogue and establish partnerships to alleviate budgetary constraints in the education sector.

Minister Gwarube used the event to outline her strategic priorities for the seventh administration and to discuss how the public-private sector collaboration can drive sustainable improvements in the education system.

“Today, I want to call on our private sector partners to consider taking their involvement in the education sector to the next level.

“As South Africa’s seventh administration in the Government of National Unity [GNU], we are fully committed to improving education outcomes across the country.

“We recognise that this cannot be achieved by government alone. The private sector has a significant role to play, and we are here to facilitate, support, and collaborate with you in ways that make the greatest impact,” she said, adding that a step-change investment in education means more than just financial support, it means active participation.

The minister invited the private sector partners to work closely with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to co-create programs that build the skills needed for a competitive and productive economy.

“We need your input, your insights, and your innovation to help shape our education system in a way that prepares learners for real-world challenges and opportunities.”

Investing in quality education

With the country having ushered in a GNU in May, the Minister emphasised that education was an important issue that everyone can agree on, regardlessof their political inclinations.

She said every single South African has a vested interest in the quality of the nation’s education sector while adding that since the dawn of democracy, much has been done to provide access to basic education.

However, 30 years later, she said the nation now needed to shift its focus to quality education.

The minister referred to an international study that revealed that about the 80% of learners who were tested (as a sample) could not read for meaning in any language.

While this was a small sample, she said that this was gravely concerning.

“If we do not fix literacy – which is reading, writing and counting – the DBE had failed on its core function. This is why every single priority in the seventh administration speaks to this goal.

“We must make sure through early child learning; we can achieve the goal of reading for meaning by Grade 4. Government has a tendency to focus only on the quality of outcomes like the matric pass rate – but not on the foundations of learning.

“I endeavour to reorientate this planning and thinking. Let us get the basics right and we will achieve a great deal in the education sector,” the minister said.

Minister Gwarube emphasised that quality education is the foundation upon which the country can build a prosperous future.

“It is the tool that will empower our young people to innovate, to lead, and to contribute meaningfully to their communities and economies.

“However, to achieve this, our education systems must be strong, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of a modern workforce.”

She further emphasised the need to provide not only foundational literacy and numeracy but also the skills necessary for the jobs and challenges of the 21st century which are digital literacy, critical thinking, adaptability, and creativity.

Priorities

Touching on the priorities, the minister said the seventh administration has identified several key priorities which include improved access to and strengthen the quality of Early Childhood Development (ECD).

“A strong foundation is important for literacy and numeracy. Early Childhood Development sets the stage for lifelong learning and personal development. We want every child in South Africa to leave our ECDs with a solid foundation in reading and counting,” the minister said.

Other priorities are improving literacy and numeracy across all phases of schooling, special education, accelerated teacher development and safety in schools.

“Learners need safe, conducive environments where they can focus on their studies without interruption. This includes basic facilities such as dignified flushing toilets, but also learning environments free from crime, extortion rackets, contaminated food products and other dangerous chemical,” she said.

The minister noted the high number of learners who have fallen ill and children from Naledi in Gauteng who tragically lost their lives due to food bought from local spaza shops and consumed on school premises.

“Last week Wednesday I began a process to ban the dangerous chemical known as organophosphate from all schools in South Africa. This is a proactive measure to prevent the risk of this chemical ever being used as a pesticide in any of our schools,” she said.