Question NW760 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
24 March 2022 - NW760
Tito, Ms LF to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What (a) is the (i) current average teachertopupil ratio in the Republic and (ii) recommended ratio and (b) steps are being taken by her department to ensure that the recommended ratio is applied across all schools?
Reply:
(a) (i) The average national teacher-to-pupil ratio in 2021 was 1:31.4 (School Realities, published in January 2020).
(ii) There is no regulated teacher-to-pupil ratio in South Africa. However, there is an established guideline that the average teacher-to pupil ratio at public ordinary schools should not be above 1:35 at primary and 1:40 at secondary schools. Although the afore-mentioned guideline which was established in terms of the Education Labour Relations Council's Resolution 4 of 1995 has since been replaced by the current post provisioning norms, it is being used as a point of reference.
(b) As indicated above, there is no regulated teacher-to pupil ratio in public education.