The Education chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the South African education sector. The chapter commences with a financial overview, with short- and medium-term trends being presented. International comparisons of educational spending are provided.
A qualification profile of the South African population is given. This is followed by detailed data on literacy and numeracy. A thorough overview of enrolment trends is then provided, from early childhood development up to enrolment of people older than 18. Ten-year trends for enrolment at public and independent schools are also provided, including a racial breakdown. The growth of the independent sector is highlighted.
A comprehensive profile of teachers is given, with information on the number of teachers, their level of qualification, and the numbers of students who graduate with teaching qualifications each year.
This is followed by a detailed section on the output of the South African education sector. This ranges from matric examination results, to the output of further education and training colleges, to the number of apprentices being trained. Matric results by race are also provided, and the performance of Africans in matric, going back to 1955, is also given.
A comprehensive section on public higher education is also provided. Enrolment by race at South African universities since 1995 is provided, as is information on awards made by universities. A comparison of degrees awarded in 1991 and 2008 by race is provided. This shows how the higher education sector in the country has been racially transformed. Information on throughput rates of the South African tertiary sector is also provided. The chapter concludes with information on private higher education.
The Survey is the only journal which provides such a comprehensive overview of the South African education sector in one accessible document. It is invaluable for any decision-maker and strategist, as well as anyone interested or involved in South African education.
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EDUCATION
EDUCATION AT A GLANCE
Education at a glance
FINANCE
Education spending
All public spending
Consolidated spending on education, 2009/10–2012/13
Public education expenditure as a proportion of total government expenditure, 1996/97–2006/07
Public total education and school expenditure as a proportion of GDP, 1995/96–2006/07
Spending on school education
Spending per pupil by province, 2008/09
Change in spending per pupil by province, 2000/01–2008/09
Change in real spending per pupil in ordinary public schools, by province, 2000–2007
University spending
State spending on universities, 1999 and 2009
State budget allocation according to institution and spending per university student, 2009
International comparisons
Public expenditure on education as a proportion of total government expenditure, and of GDP, selected countries, 2008
qualification profile of the population
National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
Levels of education in South Africa
Level of education
National statistics
No schooling
Adults without education by race
Persons aged 20 and older, with no schooling by race 1999 and 2009 (numbers)
Persons aged 20 and older with no schooling by race, 1999 and 2009 (proportions)
School education
Adults who have completed grade 9 by race
Persons aged 20 and older who have completed grade 9 by race, 1999 and 2009 (numbers)
Persons aged 20 and older who have completed grade 9 by race, 1999 and 2009 (proportions)
Adults who have completed grade 12 by race
Persons aged 20 and older who have completed grade 12 by race, 1999 and 2009 (numbers)
Persons aged 20 and older who have completed grade 12 by race, 1999 and 2009 (proportions)
Post-school education
Adults who have completed post-school education by race
Persons aged 20 and older, who have completed post-school education by race, 1999 and 2009 (numbers)
Persons aged 20 and older who have completed post-school education by race, 1999 and 2009 (proportions)
Literacy and numeracy
Children
Grade 3 literacy by province, 2001 and 2007
Grade 3 numeracy by province, 2001 and 2007
Persons aged 15 and older
Persons aged 15 and older who can write their own name by race, 2009, numbers and proportions
Persons aged 15 and older who can read, by race, 2009, numbers and proportions
Persons aged 15 and older who are numerate, by race, 2009, numbers and proportions
International comparisons
Adult literacy, selected countries, 2007
Youth literacy rate by sex, selected countries, 2005–2007
Provincial and local statistics
Educational attendance
Attendance
Breakdown by age
Proportion of population aged between 4 and 6 attending an educational institution, 2002–2007
Proportion of population aged between 7 and 15 attending an educational institution, 2002–2008
Proportion of population aged between 7 and 15 attending an educational institution by sex, 2002–2007
Proportion of population aged between 16 and 18 attending an educational institution by sex, 2002–2007
Proportion of people aged between 5 and 24 attending an educational institution, 2002–2008
Breakdown by institution
Population attending an educational institution, by type of institution, 2008
Population attending an educational institution, by type of institution and race, 2008
Proportion of provincial population attending an educational institution by province, 2008
Breakdown by fee payment
Proportion of people attending an educational institution that pay annual tuition fees, 2002–2008
Non-attendance
Proportion of out–of–school children in the population aged between 14 and 18, 2002 and 2006
PRE-PRIMARY, primary, AND SECONDARY SCHOOLING
Enrolment
Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs)
Attendance at early childhood education sites by province, and race, 2000
Population aged between 0 and 4 attending an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre, by race, 2009 (numbers and proportions)
Population aged between 0 and 4 attending an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre, by province, 2009
Gross enrolment rate (GER) at early childhood development sites, 2002–2007
Grade R
Enrolment by sex in grade R at sites attached to independent and public schools, 1999–2007
Primary schools
Gross enrolment rate (GER) at primary school level 1985, 1991, 1995, 1997–2007
Net enrolment rate (NER) of children aged between 7 and 13, 1997–2005
Secondary schools
Gross enrolment rate (GER) at secondary school level, 1985, 1991, 1995, 1997–2007
Net enrolment rate (NER) of children aged between 14 and 18, 1997–2005
All schools
Enrolment by grade at ordinary public and independent schools, 1999 and 2009
School enrolment, 2007
Provincial distribution of pupils by poverty quintile, 2008
Pupils at independent and public schools by province, 2000 to 2009
Resources
Public schools
Number of public schools
Public schools by province, 1999 and 2009
Dinaledi schools
Number of Dinaledi schools by province, 2002–2008
Former Model C schools
Number of former Model C schools in South Africa, 2009
Pupils and teachers
Pupils and teachers at public schools by province, 2009
Pupils and teachers at public schools, 2003 and 2009
Pupils
Number of pupils in ordinary schools, by province and race, 2008
Number of pupils in ordinary schools, by home language and province, 2008
Number of pupils in ordinary schools, by preference of the pupil’s language of learning and teaching and province, 2008
Number of no-fee schools, and of pupils attending no-fee schools, 2009
Pupils at farm schools by province, 1996 and 2000
Pupils in receipt of social grants by province, 2007 and 2008
Teachers
Teachers employed by School Governing Bodies (SGBs)
Number of teachers employed by school governing bodies, 1997, 2004, 2007-2009
Teacher qualifications
The qualification profile of teachers in public schools, 2005
Proportion of teachers that are qualified by race: 1990, 1994, 2005–2008
Proportion of teachers that are qualified: 1990, 1994, 2005–2008
Qualified mathematics and physical science teachers by province, 2008
Teacher intake
First-time registrations in teaching at tertiary institution 2005–2008
Number of new graduates entering teaching, 2005–2008
Teacher vacancies
Vacancies by province, 2008
Teaching appointments
Teaching appointments, 2009
Temporary teachers
Number of temporary teachers by province at January 2010
Facilities and amenities
Safety in schools
Discipline in schools
Expulsions by province, 2008 and 2009
Pregnancy in schools
Number of pupils who got pregnant in ordinary schools, by province and grade, 2007
Independent schools
Independent schools by province, 1999, 2003, and 2009
Pupils and teachers at independent schools by province, 2009
Pupils at independent schools by race and province, 2003–2008
Changes in schools
All schools and pupils
Schools
Pupils
School examinations and output
Public examinations
Definitions
National Senior Certificate Grade 12, also known as Matric
Overall results
Senior certificate examination results, 1980–2007: old curriculum
National senior certificate examination results: 2008 and 2009 — new curriculum
Results by province
Senior certificate examination results by province, 1994, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007: old curriculum
Results by race and province
Matric pass rate by race and province, 2009
African results, 1955–2009
African results, 1955–2009
Subject results
Results in selected senior certificate examination subjects, 1999–2007: old curriculum
Subject results: new curriculum: 15 selected subjects, 2009
National senior certificate results: technical subjects, 2009
National senior certificate examination results: languages, 2009
Mathematics results in Dinaledi and other schools, 2008
Physical science results in Dinaledi and other schools, 2008
South Africa’s top schools
Results in South Africa’s Top 100 schools, 2008
The poorest schools that achieved pass rates of 100%, 2009
Matric results by race and type of school, 2009
Matric pass rates by race and type of school, 2009
Matric passes by race and type of school, 2009 (numbers)
Matric passes by race and type of school, 2009 (proportions by type of school)
Matric passes by race and type of school, 2009 (proportions by race)
Matric pass rates by race and type of school, 2009
Throughput
Throughput, 2007–2009
Drop-out rate by grade, 1997–2003
Completion rates, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001–2007
Independent examinations board
Examination results
Independent Examinations Board senior certificate examination results, 1994–2009
International schooling comparisons
The quality of schooling
Reading achievement, grade 4, 2006
The school system, 2008
School enrolment
School enrolment rates, selected countries, 2007
OTHER EDUCATION
Further education and training (FET)
Further education and training colleges
Enrolments for NC (V) levels by province, 2009
NC (V) results per programme, 2009
Further education and training colleges by province, 2009
FET colleges in South Africa, 2009
Vocational training and apprentices
Pupils who took trade tests through Indlela, 2006/07–2008/09
Number of apprentices that entered apprenticeship training through apprenticeship contracts with Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas), 2006/07–2008/09
Nursing
Output of nurses, private and public institutions, 2000–09
Agricultural colleges
Enrolments for diplomas, higher certificates, and degrees by race and sex at colleges of agriculture, 2006
Enrolments by programme at colleges of agriculture in 2006
PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION
Enrolment
Higher education participation rate
Higher education participation rates by race, 2007
First year enrolment
Number of undergraduate students enrolling for their first year of study, 2004–2008
South African universities
Tertiary enrolment
University and university of technology enrolment, 1985–2008
Head-count enrolment at universities and universities of technology by race, 1995–2008 (numbers)
Head-count enrolment at universities and universities of technology by race, 1995–2008 (proportions)
Head-count enrolment at universities and universities of technology by race, 1995 and 2008 (proportions)
University head-count, by race, 1999–2008 (numbers)
University head-count, by race, 1999 and 2008 (numbers)
University head-count, by race, 1999–2008 (proportions)
University head-count, by race, 1999 and 2008 (proportions)
University of technology head-count, by race, 1999–2008 (numbers)
University of technology head-count by race, 1999 and 2008 (numbers)
University of technology head-count, by race, 1999–2008 (proportions)
University of technology head-count, by race, 1999 and 2008 (proportions)
Staff
University staff and students
Students, staff, and ratio of students to staff, 2008
Output
Publications
Publications by university
Publications of articles, books, and conference proceedings, 2008
All tertiary awards, 1996, 2006, and 2008
Degrees, diplomas, and certificates awarded by universities and universities of technology by field of study, 1996, 2006, and 2008
Degrees
University and university of technology awards by race and subject, 1991 and 2008 (numbers): degrees
University and university of technology awards by race and subject, 1991 and 2008 (vertical proportions): degrees
University and university of technology awards by race and subject, 1991 and 2008 (horizontal proportions): degrees
Degrees awarded by institution and race, 2008 (numbers)
Degrees awarded by institution and race, 2008 (proportions)
Output of universities and universities of technology, 2008
Proportion of graduates in science, engineering, and technology (SET) in higher education, 1994–2007
Throughput
First-year passes
Proportion of first year students passing their first year, 2004–2008
Tertiary throughput rate, 2002
Tertiary throughput rate, first-year class of 2002
Interim tests
National Benchmark Tests Project, academic literacy
National Benchmark Tests Project, quantitative literacy
National Benchmark Tests Project, mathematics
Private HIGHER EDUCATION
Private higher education institutions
Private Higher Education, 2009, officially registered private higher education institutions (includes provisionally registered institutions)
Private higher education institutions in South Africa, 2009
WORK AND EDUCATION
Education and employment
Employment by highest level of education, 2009 and 2010 (numbers)
Employment by highest level of education, 2009 and 2010 (proportions)
Education and unemployment
Unemployment by highest level of education, 2009 and 2010 (numbers)
Unemployment by highest level of education, 2009 and 2010 (proportions)
INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS
UNDP Education Index, 2009