The DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has deployed its Members as part of the Provincial Legislature School Functionality inspections, which take place across the province over the next two days.
The oversights – to assess readiness for the 2025 academic year – are crucial in ensuring that schools are fully prepared for the upcoming year and are operating in an environment conducive to effective teaching and learning.
Oversight inspections enable the DA to assess the state of schools and identify key challenges that impact education outcomes. We remain committed to ensuring that all learners have access to quality education and that schools are well-equipped to meet their needs.
The DA will focus on several key areas as part of the oversights:
• Infrastructure Maintenance
The importance of well-maintained school infrastructure cannot be overstated. Issues raised in the past regarding dilapidated classrooms, broken toilets, and unsafe school grounds continue to hinder learning. Poor maintenance negatively affects both learners’ safety and ability to focus in the classroom. The DA will assess whether KZN’s Department of Education (DoE) has addressed these longstanding issues and will advocate for sustainable maintenance plans that prioritise learners’ dignity and safety. It is also critical that the DoE pays what it owes to KZN’s Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) as this ongoing non-payment will result in all Education infrastructure projects coming to a halt.
• Learning and Teaching Support Materials (LTSM)
Timely delivery of textbooks, stationery, and other learning materials is essential for schools to roll out their curriculum effectively. Past delays have caused significant disruptions to learning. The DA will monitor the status of LTSM deliveries and ensure that schools are fully equipped for teaching
• Norms and Standards Funding
Many KZN schools have faced challenges due to late or inadequate disbursement of Norms and Standards funds. These funds are critical for daily operations, including utility payments and procurement of essential resources. The DA will engage with school management to assess whether funds have been paid out on time and whether they are sufficient to meet the schools’ operational needs and;
• School Management
Teacher shortages, poor learner-teacher ratios, and inadequate subject readiness remain key barriers to quality education in KZN. The DA will assess teacher allocations, the readiness of subject specialists, and class sizes to ensure that every learner has access to qualified educators and manageable class environments.
As part of KZN’s Provincial Government of Unity (GPU) the DA remains committed to holding government accountable and to ensuring that every child receives the quality education they deserve. We will provide updates on the findings of these inspections and work to ensure that the necessary interventions are implemented.