SAHRC urges DBE to address systematic challenges affecting public school learners

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has urged the Department of Basic Education to address systematic challenges negatively affecting learners in public schools.

The call was made during a briefing on Wednesday, where the commission is providing its findings from its observations of public schools.

The commission monitored 150 schools that mainly face historic service delivery issues and are commonly under-resourced.

At the beginning of 2025, the SAHRC undertook its monitoring project in all nine provinces.

In its report, the commission outlines five major challenges identified at public schools across the country.

These include the chronic neglect of infrastructure, uneven access to quality basic education and poor sanitation.

"The report that we are launching today is not a report that we would want to sit on our shelves and gather dust. It's really a call to action. It's a call to action because it highlights systemic challenges in our schooling system, challenges that impact on the enjoyment of the right to basic education, access to basic education,”said the SAHRC Commissioner, Tshepo Madlingozi.

Madlingozi said he hopes the report will assist the department in addressing the issues identified for the benefit of all learners.

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