Gauteng has funds for 18 schools – it needs 200

The Gauteng education department is in the process of securing private-sector funding to build 200 schools after receiving R2.5 billion from the treasury for the 2025-26 financial year to build 18 schools.

- Umamah Bakharia

"I would say [we need] about 200 schools — it would make a big difference. We are coming up with different strategies. Among those which I do believe will work quicker is the public-private partnership," education MEC Matome Chiloane told journalists.

The provincial department said it faced an immediate shortage of 132 schools in townships — 75 primary schools and 57 secondary schools. Eighty-eight schools are required in areas with high-density, middle-income housing developments.

The Gauteng department of infrastructure development says it plans to build 20 new schools by 2029, averaging about four schools per year. Gauteng, the country’s most populous province, has 5790 public schools.

Statistics from the national education department show that, over the past decade, learner numbers surged from nearly 1.95 million in 2014 to more than 2.28 million in 2023, reflecting an increase of about 725 000 learners.