The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng wishes all learners a successful and productive 2026 academic year. We encourage every learner to approach this year with determination, discipline, and a commitment to achieving their full potential.
Education remains the most powerful tool to unlock opportunity, break cycles of poverty, and build a prosperous future. The Class of 2026 must give their very best in both academic and extracurricular activities, as these formative years shape their career prospects and personal development.
The DA will continue conducting school oversight visits across the province to assess school readiness and identify ongoing challenges. Our focus will include infrastructure conditions, overcrowding, availability of textbooks, adequacy of school furniture, learner-to-educator ratios, enrolment backlogs, and the level of support provided by district offices for late applications and parents who have appealed school allocations.
Gauteng learners should never be forced to accept substandard conditions. No child should have to share a chair, learn without textbooks, use unsafe or blocked toilets, or attend schools with crumbling infrastructure. These indignities undermine dignity and directly affect learning outcomes.
We demand Premier Panyaza Lesufi and MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, to urgently address these systemic failures and prioritise the building of new schools, proper maintenance of existing infrastructure, and effective learner support systems.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would ensure that every school offers a safe, clean, and conducive learning environment. We would fast-track infrastructure projects, end overcrowding, strengthen district accountability, and ensure that learners receive nutritious meals through a properly managed school nutrition programme.
The DA remains committed to constructive engagement with the department, but we will not hesitate to hold the MEC accountable where delivery falls short. We will continue raising all issues that negatively impact quality basic education in the Legislature and through our oversight role.
We encourage the department to embrace innovation in teaching and learning, including digital resources and skills-based education, to better prepare learners for the modern economy.
An improved education system is essential for economic growth, job creation, and attracting investment to Gauteng. Our learners deserve nothing less.
We wish all Gauteng learners every success in 2026.