Johannesburg, 14 August 2024 – In a bold and candid address at the Kievet Reading Panel, Minister of Education Siviwe Gwarube emphasized the need for an in-depth review of the efficacy of The Departments programmes. Her speech marked a significant departure from the usual scripted rhetoric, laying bare the deep-rooted inequalities and systemic failures that continue to plague the nation's schools.

Minister Gwarube did not shy away from depicting the dire state of education, stressing the need to confront these challenges head-on. "We must prioritize where we are now so that we can ignite a real call to action," she declared, underscoring the importance of addressing foundational skills to ensure that no child is left behind.

Mother-Tongue Based Bilingual Education and Literacy

One of the key issues the Minister highlighted was the importance of mother-tongue based bilingual education. "Children who learn in their mother tongue are better equipped to succeed," she stated, pointing to the disparity in performance in children learning in Afrikaans, English and African languages in the Foundation phase, and the  transition in grade 4 for more than 75% of learners from their mother tongue to English, exacerbating the problem.

Minister Gwarube also linked literacy with school safety, arguing that eradicating pit toilets is just the starting point. "...If [learners and teachers] feel unsafe…they are unable to perform as well as they should…We must focus on maintaining schools, ensuring safety, and addressing the challenges that teachers face in unsafe environments," she said.

Systemic Challenges and Coordination

The Minister highlighted the urgent need to address literacy and school safety, emphasizing that efforts to eliminate pit toilets must be accompanied by comprehensive school maintenance and safety measures. She called for stronger coordination among government departments, civil society, and the private sector to prioritize and resolve these crises.

Early Childhood Development and Infrastructure

Minister Gwarube placed significant emphasis on the role of Early Childhood Development (ECD) in shaping the future of South Africa’s youth. She called for the formalisation of ECD programs and the redirection of resources to underserved areas. "Early intervention is crucial, and we need to ensure that our youngest learners are given the best possible start," she emphasized.

She also stressed the importance of proper infrastructure and efficient resource allocation, including reading materials,particularly in under-resourced and rural communities. "We must get the basics right—eliminate pit toilets, ensure teaching time is protected, and involve communities and School Governing Bodies (SGBs) in the maintenance of our schools," she asserted.

A Call to National Action

Minister Gwarube concluded her address with a powerful call for a national, holistic approach to reforming the education system.“I wish to see the Department of Education not just being a social portfolio, being actually in the economic cluster, because that's where it belongs. Because if you get this right, that's how you're going to solve your economic problems” she affirmed.

Her presentation urged a collective effort to address the educational crisis and create a brighter future for South Africa's youth through a transformed and equitable education system.

Obsessing about the entire system

The minister stressed the  need to shift from an overt focus on matric results and understand when and why we are losing learners along the way. We need to make sure that the learners who start, are on track to finish . Central to this are reliable assessments and  ensuring that our teachers have the requisite support  with safe teaching environments and effective teacher training

Changing the Culture of Reading

Advocating for a cultural shift in reading, particularly promoting a culture of reading amongst communities and parents to ensure learners not only learn how to read, but schools, communities and homes become supportive environments for developing this skill and reading for enjoyment.

In her closing remarks, Minister Gwarube called for collaboration with other cabinet ministers and a strategic reallocation of public and NGO funding towards data-driven needs.

She emphasized the importance of a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to address systemic issues in education. By forming strategic partnerships and implementing bold, data-driven interventions, the Minister aims to transform the sector and deliver measurable improvements.

For further information or media inquiries and interview requests, please contact JT Comms on media@jtcomms.co.za or call 011 788 7632 or Dee’s 083 954 6133 or Sandile 068 384 2116

Issued by JT Communication Solutions on Behalf of Reading Panel – www.readingpanel.co.za