South Africa to broaden how it ranks provincial education performance

South Africa will assess provincial education performance using a wider set of measures, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said at a briefing on readiness for the 2026 final school examinations.

The indicators will include passes that qualify pupils for bachelor's degree study, learner retention, and participation and results in subjects such as mathematics, science and accounting. Gwarube said the approach was intended to prevent schools from concentrating on pass rates at the expense of pupils' development.

She said the broader assessment would help provinces compare performance and identify areas needing intervention. It would consider progress in literacy and numeracy, as well as whether pupils remain in education and take the key subjects.

Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule also urged parents and communities to support pupils during the examinations. She said the department was working with municipalities and other partners on practical difficulties, including water supply interruptions in some areas.