Education system in South Africa’s richest province on the verge of collapse, says Teachers’ Network

The Solidarity Teachers’ Network has warned that Gauteng’s education system could collapse if serious issues are not addressed.

The network called for an urgent plan to expand infrastructure, create capacity, and fulfil essential responsibilities.

It cited Gauteng’s MEC for Education, Lebogang Maile, who said that 48% of the province’s schools and 64% of its secondary schools are overcrowded.

There is a shortfall of more than 80,000 places for secondary school learners. “This is not merely an administrative problem, but a full-blown crisis,” it said.

According to Johan Botha, head of the Solidarity Teachers’ Network, the education system is faltering nationwide.

Botha said that Gauteng, South Africa’s economic heartland, is particularly hard hit and needs an urgent intervention.

“It is only kept alive by dedicated, overworked teachers and inadequate infrastructure that has long since reached breaking point,” Botha said.

“When nearly half of schools are overcrowded, we are no longer talking about a challenge. This is a systemic crisis. Our children’s future is at stake.”

The Solidarity Teachers’ Network demanded that the Gauteng Department of Education move from vague promises to transparent, measurable action.

“There is an immediate need for a public, detailed multi-year infrastructure plan with clear milestones, budgets and timelines,” he said.

“The public must be able to see, quarterly, which projects are progressing, which contractors are performing and why there are delays.”

Not enough schools are built in Gauteng

According to Solidarity, the current pace at which schools are being built and expanded is inadequate to meet the growing demand.

“The education authorities are failing in their duty to act by reprioritising budgets, cutting waste and safeguarding the remaining capacity of existing schools,” it said.

“The forced placement of learners into already overcrowded schools without the necessary additional resources is irresponsible.”

Solidarity said that the only functional schools, and the people who are keeping the system going, are being pushed to breaking point.

The Solidarity Teachers’ Network said that accountability, or the lack thereof, is a core issue at the Gauteng Department of Education.

The network said that nobody is held accountable for the recurring cycle of promises without delivery.

“Teachers bear the brunt of the crisis. Overcrowded classrooms lead to more administration, less individual attention, and an increased risk of burnout,” it said.

“Discipline becomes harder to maintain, learner performance declines, and the ability to achieve academic outcomes is compromised.”

“It is an attack on the quality of education and on teachers’ ability to perform their work effectively. It is why so many good teachers are leaving the profession,” said Botha.

Botha warned that education in Gauteng, and in South Africa more broadly, is heading towards a crisis.

“Without urgent, decisive intervention, the system will simply no longer be able to cope with the pressure and will collapse,” he said.