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The more than 1 100 learners in Gauteng, who have still not been placed in schools almost a month after the start of the first school term for 2026, is evidence of the Gauteng Department of Education’s inability to properly plan and develop infrastructure. According to Matome Chiloane, the MEC for Education in Gauteng, the delay in placing these learners is due to delays in the acquisition of mobile classrooms. In the meantime, these learners will be placed in temporary classrooms on the school grounds, which raises renewed concerns about the quality of education they will receive.

According to AfriForum, this situation is a direct consequence of a centralised placement process that began too late in 2025 and is now negatively affecting learners’ academic education in the new school year. This concern was raised repeatedly last year and it still seems as if the Department does not grasp the seriousness of the matter.

“The fact that learners must now be accommodated in temporary classrooms cannot be considered a sustainable solution. Overcrowded classrooms and temporary structures not only put pressure on teachers, but also raise serious questions about the quality of education delivered under such circumstances,” says Carien Bloem, AfriForum’s Head of Education Projects.

In addition to a lack of quality education, these learners have also already been deprived of the opportunity to fully participate in sports and cultural activities this year, which is a core aspect of a balanced and holistic school experience. The first month of the school year is often decisive for integration, team building and the establishment of academic routines. These learners are already at a disadvantage.

The solution to this problem is to build more schools and to improve the academic offerings of existing schools that are less popular. AfriForum will therefore continue to apply pressure on the Department of Education to establish sufficient and adequate schools in Gauteng, especially in high-demand areas of the province.

The lack of timely infrastructure development of schools indicates the systemic shortcomings in forward planning for a problem that the Department has been aware of for years. Population growth and migration to urban areas are not new phenomena.

“The future of thousands of learners cannot be sacrificed year after year to administrative failures and a centralised placement system, which clearly does not work. AfriForum will continue to monitor the situation closely and apply pressure on the Department to ensure that every learner receives access to quality education in a suitable learning environment,” concludes Bloem.

Issued by AfriForum