Gauteng's education system faces severe overcrowding with up to 70 pupils per teacher

Gauteng's public education system is experiencing severe overcrowding, with some classrooms accommodating up to 70 pupils per teacher, according to the provincial education department. This issue was highlighted by the newly appointed MEC for Education, Lebogang Maile, during a media briefing on the state of education and its 2025/2030 strategic plan. The department attributes the crisis to rapid population growth and migration into the province, which has led to enrolment more than doubling from 1.4 million pupils in 1995 to over 2.8 million in 2026. Infrastructure development has not kept pace, resulting in severe overcrowding in an estimated 723 schools and a shortage of about 5,554 classrooms. The influx of approximately 50,000 pupils annually leaves tens of thousands without confirmed placement. Officials estimate that at least 200 new schools are needed to stabilize the system. Financial constraints and a rising wage bill for teachers limit funds for infrastructure and materials, while a shortage of 1,173 teachers, particularly in mathematics, science, and technology, further exacerbates the problem. Large class sizes contribute to teacher burnout, limit individual attention, and worsen poor literacy and numeracy outcomes. The department's 2025/2030 strategic plan aims to address these challenges through infrastructure development, improved teacher support, and curriculum interventions, but acknowledges that it cannot solve the crisis alone.