Over 100 000 learners drop out of schools in Gauteng

16 April 2023

Many schools in Gauteng are in terrible condition, resulting in thousands of learners being lost in the system. Many have dropped out of school, while others have been moved to schools with better resources to deliver quality education.

Out of 2 513 350 learners whom the department enrolled in 2021, only 2 252 291 returned to school in the 2022 academic year in Grades 1 to 12.

There is an alarming number of 110 381 learners, the department is uncertain whether they moved to other provinces or countries or left the education system altogether.

This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, in a written reply to the DA’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

Of the 110 381 learners who were lost in the system, 53 935 are of school-going age.

This is concerning because it substantially impacts the future of these learners, who will struggle to find long-term employment as they lack the basic skills needed in a workplace.

The DA proposes that the department must have mechanisms in place to track the learners who are lost in the system to ensure that no learner of school-going age is deprived of education.

Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the department to maintain our schools regularly. We demand that all schools be adequately equipped with resources to create an environment conducive to learning and teaching.

The DA will submit further questions to the MEC to determine what steps have been taken to locate the whereabouts of these learners that have been lost in the system.

Issued by Khume Ramulifho, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, 17 April 2023