Education Improvements and Early Learner Development Expected in President’s Speech

Statement by Ciska Jordaan MP – DA Deputy Spokesperson on Basic Education:

The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes and supports the steady progress made by the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube MP, and expects this to feature in the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Since Minister Gwarube’s appointment, we have seen measurable improvement and progress in the schooling system that has not been seen under previous ANC Ministers.

The highest-ever 88% national pass rate in democratic South Africa, as seen in the 2025 National Senior Certificate examinations, points to broader system improvements:

• strengthened educator support;
• a renewed emphasis on reading skills;
• practical initiatives aimed at creating safer learning environments; and
• greater investment in digital infrastructure.

Minister Gwarube’s swift investigation and containment of a matric examination breach also helped protect the credibility and integrity of the 2025 examination process.

The DA welcomes Minister Gwarube’s strong focus on the foundations of learning. In 2025, the government committed R10 billion over the medium term to foundational learning – including a significant boost to Early Childhood Development (ECD). For the first time in years, we’ve seen a rise in the per-child subsidy for ECD from R17 to R24. This enabled more than 138 000 additional children to access early learning opportunities, a vital step toward improving both equity and learning outcomes. Further to this, a rigorous and ongoing registration drive for ECD centres has resulted in improved access to early learning.

The foundational phase, particularly literacy and numeracy, remains a key priority. This is being reinforced through new reading standards and improved classroom support to ensure learners are equipped with the skills needed to succeed.

We also welcome the continued expansion of digital learning infrastructure. More than 3 300 government buildings, including many schools, have been connected in partnership with the Department of Communications, broadening access to digital learning platforms and tools.

Teacher development remains a central focus. Thousands of Grade R educators are currently enrolled in formal training programmes through institutions such as UNISA, a critical step toward professionalising early childhood education and strengthening the quality of teaching in the foundation years.

The DA further welcomes the Minister’s intention to address the lack of Mathematics offerings in over 400 schools. While much more needs to be done, we support this direction and encourage stronger interventions in 2026 to expand access to critical subjects such as Maths and Science.

Finally, Minister Gwarube has also launched WellnessKhuluma, a virtual platform designed to support access to mental health resources across the sector for learners and educators in support of wellbeing and stronger education outcomes.

The DA will continue to support evidence-based reforms that improve outcomes, build accountability, and ensure that no child is left behind.