SA's expenditure on schooling exceeds international standards set by UNESCO - Nzimande

JOHANNESBURG - Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande said that South Africa's expenditure on schooling exceeded international standards set by UNESCO.

Nzimande briefed the public on the state of readiness of institutions of higher learning in Pretoria on Tuesday as the registration period is well underway at several universities.

He said the country was currently spending at least 7% of the country's GDP on education, which is a percentage higher than what was recommended.

The minister said this was evidence of government’s commitment to equal access to education for all South Africans.

"We are above international norms on expenditure and percentage-wise, even exceed or proportionately, the expenditure of BRICS countries as well as the average for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries."