Note to Editors: Attached please find sound bites in English and isiZulu by Sakhile Mngadi, MPL
As schools across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) open their doors for the 2025 academic year, the DA extends a warm welcome to all learners, educators, and parents.
Education remains the cornerstone of a thriving society, and the DA remains committed to ensuring that every child in our province has access to quality learning opportunities.
Despite hard work by stakeholders over the past few months, KZN’s education system continues to face numerous challenges.
The issue of late registration by parents has once again emerged this year, with many still struggling to secure placement for their children in Grade 1 and Grade 8. This is deeply concerning, as it causes unnecessary disruptions to learners’ academic journeys.
The DA is working tirelessly to assist families in these cases. Parents who require support are encouraged to contact me directly via WhatsApp on 061 402 9328, and we will do our best to ensure every learner finds a place in the classroom.
KZN’s schools currently accommodate approximately 2.9 million learners, making it one of the largest provincial education systems in the country.
Unfortunately, concerns around readiness for the new academic year remain, as several schools are yet to receive their norms and standards batch payments from KZN’s Department of Education (DoE). This failure to disburse much-needed funds has left many institutions unable to purchase basic supplies or complete essential maintenance.
The DA is actively engaging with DoE Head of Department, Nkosinathi Ngcobo, to address this issue and demand accountability from provincial government. It is unacceptable for learners and educators to return to environments that are not conducive to learning due to administrative inefficiencies.
As we embark on this new academic year, the DA wishes all learners, educators, and parents the very best. We are committed to working hard on the ground to realise the vision outlined by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube: A quality education system where no child is left behind. Together, we can ensure that every learner in our province has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
Let us make 2025 a year of progress and achievement in education!