Gauteng MEC for Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, Lebogang Maile, has unveiled plans to enhance educational infrastructure.
The announcement comes amid alarming statistics showing that the average pupil-teacher ratio currently stands at a staggering 70:1, with the province said to require at least 200 schools to address overcrowding.
On Tuesday, Maile addressed a media briefing on the challenges brought by overcrowding in Gauteng public schools spread across the 15 education districts.
Recognising the urgent need for action, Maile disclosed that the provincial government will initiate various measures designed to mitigate this crisis.
Central to this strategy is the expansion of school infrastructure, which will include the construction of 18 new schools across the province.
He indicated that this initiative aims not only to reduce class sizes but also to improve learning conditions for pupils and educators alike.
Maile stated that the Gauteng Department of Education will collaborate with private partners, notably the Development Bank of South Africa, to finance these projects.Â
“We also have the budget facility for the infrastructure schools programme, in which the Gauteng Department of Education and the Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency have partnered to implement prioritised new and replacement projects identified within pressure areas. This comprises 18 projects on Greenfield sites across all municipalities in the province. We are also exploring the Public-Private Partnership infrastructure delivery model as a viable solution to address the backlog.”
The former MEC for Finance and Economic Development added that, additionally, through the self-build programme, the Gauteng Provincial Government has also introduced an additional classroom programme that allows schools to manage the construction of additional classrooms.
“We are also exploring buying privately owned former missionary schools that are still in good condition and comply with… At the core of the issue is resourcing. Education resourcing in Gauteng is under strain due to rapid enrolment growth, infrastructure backlogs, and fiscal constraints. While the allocation has increased to over R68 billion, it remains insufficient relative to demand and inequality across schools,” he added.
Maile said the province’s challenges have been compounded by the exponential growth in learner enrolment arising from migration and rapid urbanisation, adding that the province has moved from 1.4 million learners to over 2.8 million learners in 2026.
“In 1995, the province had 1,408,237 learners in its schools, and that number has increased to 2,835,168 as of 2026. This represents growth of over double the numbers 30 years ago, and is also the highest growth level across all provinces in the country, with the continued rise averaging 2% a year, adding more than 50,000 learners annually to the system,” he stated.
Siyabonga Sithole
iol.co.za
