South Africa’s public schools are home to over 250,000 foreign learners and more than 3,200 foreign educators, Minister Siviwe Gwarube revealed in Parliament. Gauteng province hosts the largest number of foreign learners (128,054), followed by Western Cape (59,138), Limpopo (16,566), and KwaZulu-Natal (14,929). Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal have the highest numbers of foreign educators (728, 717, and 706 respectively).
The figures come amid tensions in some communities over school admissions, with protests in KwaZulu-Natal highlighting concerns about local learners being “squeezed out”. However, officials stress that every child has a right to basic education, regardless of nationality or documentation status, citing the Constitution and the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) says it will work with provinces to plan for demand, support educators, and uphold equity and non-discrimination in schools
