Natalie Cowling
Research Expert South Africa
Education in South Africa - statistics & facts
One of the major obstacles South Africa faces in its education system is the high number of children not in school. Over 925 thousand children were not enrolled in 2020. This increase is likely due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The gender parity index in youth literacy indicates that a higher share of females are able to read and write in the country.
In 2022, the total number of teachers in the nation was around 451 thousand, with most of them teaching classes in KwaZulu-Natal. Furthermore, the province had the largest number of schools in the country. Out of the number of educators, the public schooling sector held the largest portion at 90 percent.
With pre-primary schooling not being compulsory, the gross pre-primary school enrollment rate was at 17.55 percent in 2020, dropping slightly from 17.84 percent the year before. The enrollment in primary education was higher, with a gross enrollment rate of 97.4 percent in 2020, making a marginal drop from 98.4 percent in 2019. Moreover, although FET does not form part of compulsory education, it is a component of secondary schooling. The gross enrollment ratio of secondary schools remained high at 102.1 percent.
In 2022, the total number of teachers in the nation was around 451 thousand, with most of them teaching classes in KwaZulu-Natal. Furthermore, the province had the largest number of schools in the country. Out of the number of educators, the public schooling sector held the largest portion at 90 percent.
Education structure and pre-tertiary education enrollment
The South African education system is broadly divided into pre-secondary, secondary, and tertiary education. The pre-secondary consists of the general education and training band (GET) while the secondary education covers the further education and training band (FET). Successful completion provides access to tertiary education. Mandatory education covers the three segments of GET, namely the foundation, intermediate, and senior phases, amounting to nine years, which excludes grade R at the start of the foundation phase.With pre-primary schooling not being compulsory, the gross pre-primary school enrollment rate was at 17.55 percent in 2020, dropping slightly from 17.84 percent the year before. The enrollment in primary education was higher, with a gross enrollment rate of 97.4 percent in 2020, making a marginal drop from 98.4 percent in 2019. Moreover, although FET does not form part of compulsory education, it is a component of secondary schooling. The gross enrollment ratio of secondary schools remained high at 102.1 percent.
Tertiary education and international student mobility
In 2020, the gross tertiary education enrollment ratio was more than 24 percent. Generation X individuals holding a higher education certificate in South Africa made up 16.4 percent in 2018. Additionally, there are more international students studying in South Africa than South African students studying abroad. The net flow of internationally mobile students was 30.2 thousand in 2019.
