Realising equal education in South Africa: Issues and challenges

Authors

  • Isaiah Mmatipe Sefoka
  • Angela

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37870/0j6ekx90

Abstract

The apartheid regime left a deeply fragmented and unequal education system with noticeable inequalities between schools serving different racial groups. Following the advent of democracy in South Africa, the educational reform aimed at addressing these inequalities brought by the enactment of Bantu Education Act, by enacting the South African Schools Act, which aimed at providing a uniform system for democratic governance, organisation and funding of schools. Despite efforts to transform the educational system, several challenges persist, impacting accessibility of quality education for millions of learners. Lately, the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA), was enacted to amend the South African Schools Act and to further, address the key challenges that hindered equal education. Against this background, the paper aims to examine the role and impact the BELA will have on improving the quality of education in South Africa considering the challenges that are prevalent, to ensure equal education for all learners despite their social backgrounds. Methodologically, the paper uses a desktop research method usually used in legal research and rely on materials including but not limited to journal articles, books, reports and online materials.

References

Arendse L. (2011). The obligation to provide free basic education in South Africa: An international law perspective, 14 Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal, 98/217.

Basic Education Laws Amendment Act 32 of 2024.

Buthelezi, M.M., Ncisana L. and Ntshangase M.X (2025). Food insecurity versus learners’ performance in the classroom: A case of South African rural school, 10 Research in Social Sciences and Technology, 130-131.

Chabalala J. (2025) ‘Education crisis at overcrowded schools will cost R32bn to fix. https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2025-05-07-education-crisis-at-overcrowded-schools-will-cost-r32bn-to-fix/. Accessed 9 July 2025.

Chitsauko-Muyambi G., and Kwasi-Atiso-Ahiaku P. (2025). Inequalities and education in South Africa: A scoping review. 8, International Journal of Educational Research 1.

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.

Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Desai, R., Magan A. and Mercken L.A.G. (2024). Understanding why youth drop out of school in South Africa, 14 Sage Journals 1-2.

Enca. (2025). KZN school face food delivery problems, pupils at risk of hunger. https://www.enca.com/videos/kzn-schools-face-food-delivery-problem-pupils-risk-hunger. Accessed 22 October 2025.

Fairhead J. (2013). A victory for equal education in South Africa. Open Society Foundations, https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/victory-equal-education-south-africa. Accessed 1 July 2025.

Government Notice 2766, GG, 30 September 2024, 51319 (South African Schools Act (84/1996): National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSSF).

Hugo W. (2024) South Africa has a new education law: some love it, some hate it-education expert explains why. https://theconversation.com/south-africa-has-a-new-education-law-some-love-it-some-hate-it-education-expert-explains-why-239406. Accessed 10 July 2025.

International Convention on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights, 1966.

Isaacs B. (2020). How the quintile system for schools work. https://iol.co.za/capeargus/opinion/2020-08-14-how-the-quintile-system-for-schools-works/. Accessed 9 July 2025.

Luneta K. (2024). Revisiting the shortage of effective mathematics teachers in Southern Africa, 3 African Journal of Teacher Education and Development, 2.

Maggs J. (2025). Huge teacher shortage: Over 460 SA schools drop mathematics. https://www.moneyweb.co.za/moneyweb-podcasts/moneyweb-midday/huge-teacher-shortage-over-460-sa-schools-drop-mathematics/ . Accessed 11 October 2025.

Manzini L.C. (2024). The right to education and the need for better school infrastructure: A call for action. https://www.derebus.org.za/the-right-to-education-and-the-need-for-better-school-infrastructure-a-call-to-action/. Accessed 5 October 2025.

Masweneng K. (2023). Effects of apartheid on education still felt by girls, marginalised: report. Times Live, https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2023-11-21-effects-of-apartheid-on-education-still-felt-by-girls-marginalised-report/. Accessed 8 July 2025.

Mathenjwa M. (2017). The realization of the right to a basic education in the twenty years of constitutional democracy, 31 Speculum Juris, 1.

Mbajiorgu D.G and Odeku K.O. (2022). Fighting food insecurity, hunger, and poverty: the content and context of the socio-economic right of access to sufficient food in South Africa, 43 Obiter, 475.

Mestry R. (2014). A critical analysis of the National Norms and Standards for School Funding policy: Implications for social justice and equity in South Africa, 42 Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 860-862.

Mokgwathi M.S., Graham M.A and De Villiers J.J.R. (2023). School infrastructure challenges in South Africa: Experiences of high school principals and teachers, 43(4) South African Journal of Education, 2.

Mudau B. (2025). Poor infrastructure imperils KZN pupils’ right to education amid climate catastrophes. https://section27.org.za/2025/04/op-ed-poor-infastructure-imperils-kzn-pupils-right-to-education-amid-climate-catastrophes/. Accessed 19 July 2025.

Mukwevho N. (2025). 14 Classrooms for 2000 learners at Limpopo school as department delays construction. https://elitshanews.org.za/2025/10/01/. Accessed 5 October 2025.

National Education Policy Act 27 of 1996.

Parliamentary Monitoring Group. (2025). Engagement with DBE on school infrastructure, maintenance backlogs and shortcomings; Update on implementation of infrastructure Norms and Standards; with Minister. https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/40630/. Accessed 11 October 2025.

Sathorar H. (2025) Equity is needed in SA’s education system. https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/opinion/2025-01-21-equity-is-needed-in-sas-education-system/. Accessed 11 July 2025.

Seeko L and Mathebula T. (2023). Democracy and inclusive education policy in post-1994 South African schools: goals, tension and struggle, 12 Educational Research for Social Change, 114.

Siaga T. (2025). Over 100 learners squeeze into one room at this overcrowded school. https://groundup.org.za/article/over-100-learners-in-one-classroom-at-this-overcrowded-limpopo-school/. Accessed 12 October 2025.

South African Schools Act 84 of 1996.

South African Human Rights Commission Report ‘South African Human Rights Commission v Eastern Cape Department of Education and another’ 4 February 2025.

Stats SA. (2024). Empty stomachs, empty classrooms: Investment in school feeding schemes. https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=17681. Accessed 22 October 2025.

Stuurman C and Cooper-Bell T. School fees’ Basic Education Rights Handbook (2nd ed).

The Borgen Project. (2018). Top nine Nelson Mandela Quotes about education’ Blog latest news

(web blog). https://borgenproject.org/nelson-mandela-quotes-about-education/. Accessed 8 July 2025.

United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization Convention against Discrimination in Education.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

World Bank Group. (2025) South Africa: Transforming the basic education sector can drive inclusive growth. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/02/04/south-africa-afe-transforming-the-basic-education-sector-can-drive-inclusive-growth. Accessed 9 July 2025.

Downloads

Published

2026-08-30

How to Cite

Sefoka, I. M., & Kgolane, M. A. . (2026). Realising equal education in South Africa: Issues and challenges. The Journal of Quality in Education, 16(28), 58-78. https://doi.org/10.37870/0j6ekx90