The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education’s announcement of 500 new Grade R teacher appointments, set to begin on April 1, 2026, has drawn a mixed reaction from teacher unions, which broadly welcomed ...

Among issues under the spotlight heading into the 2026 school year is the implementation of a compulsory Grade R year in the foundation phase, in line with the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) ...

The implementation in South Africa of a compulsory Grade R year has the potential to boost access to quality education for thousands of children, allowing them to build strong foundations that will ...

While the Bela Act makes Grade R attendance compulsory, the National Treasury’s refusal to allocate additional funding leaves provinces struggling to deliver on the promise of universal early ...