Note to Editors: The full memorandum can be accessed here.
Today, on World Children’s Day, Build One South Africa (BOSA) Deputy Leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster MP visited the Emthonjeni Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre in Johannesburg and formally tabled a memorandum of demands with the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube.
The visit and submission come as part of BOSA’s urgent call for decisive action to address South Africa’s education crisis from early childhood through to higher education.
During the visit, Hlazo-Webster engaged with ECD practitioners, parents, and community members, hearing first-hand how underfunding, inadequate resources, and unsafe learning environments are limiting opportunities for young learners.
The ECD sector, which welcomes over 200,000 children annually, receives only 1% of the national education budget, putting enormous strain on educators and infrastructure.
BOSA’s memorandum highlights the systemic challenges threatening the future of South Africa’s children, including:
Foundational learning: 81% of children cannot read for meaning by age 10; over 500 schools do not offer mathematics.
Access to resources: Only 5,863 of 22,511 public schools have a library; many classrooms lack sufficient textbooks and teaching materials.
Higher education pipeline: Only 47% of learners achieve a Bachelor’s pass, with fewer than 15% progressing to university. The 30% pass mark entrenches low standards.
School infrastructure and safety: 10,938 schools lack flushing toilets; 383 have no running water; 93% of staff have not been vetted against the Sex Offenders Register.
Budget and governance failures: Provincial departments underspent R150 million last year, failing to deliver resources effectively to schools.
BOSA’s demands for immediate action in the memorandum include:
- Raise the national pass standard to reflect real learning outcomes.
- Expand early-grade literacy and numeracy programmes.
- Guarantee access to mathematics and science in all schools with trained teachers.
- Provide functional libraries and sufficient learning materials in every school.
- Prioritise school infrastructure, including toilets, water, and electricity.
- Vet all adults working in schools against the Sex Offenders Register.
- Ensure full deployment of education budgets at national and provincial levels.
- Establish monitoring systems with quarterly public reporting on literacy, infrastructure, safety, and budget spending.
“Today, on World Children’s Day, we witnessed the real challenges facing our youngest learners,” said Hlazo-Webster. “BOSA calls on the Department of Basic Education to act decisively to ensure every child has access to quality education, safe learning environments, and the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
The Emthonjeni ECD Centre visit and the tabling of the memorandum underscore BOSA’s commitment to holding government accountable and advancing practical solutions to our country’s education crisis.
Media Enquiries:
Roger Solomons
BOSA Spokesperson
072 299 3551