“Engagement and communication are critical in development, especially in a complex multistakeholder sector such as education,”
Dr Sizwe Nxasana, Chairman of the NECT Board of Trustees.
The National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) hosted over 700 stakeholders who participated in the Civil Society Forum held on 07 July 2025. This online dialogue brought together various civil society actors committed to strengthening South Africa’s education system through inclusive and meaningful engagement.
The DBE outlined the five key priorities of the 7th Administration, which will guide the sector over the next four years:
- Improving access to and quality of Early Childhood Development.
- Improving Literacy and Numeracy skills across all phases, with a focus on the Foundation Phase.
- Improving access to and quality of inclusive education.
- Improving access to and quality of training and professional development opportunities for school management team and teachers.
- Improving the safety and quality of school environments.
The Minister of Basic Education, Hon Ms Siviwe Gwarube underscored the importance of sustained Civil society partnership in delivering improved education outcomes, while respondents from the National Association of Social Change Entities in Education (NASCEE), University of Johannesburg (UJ), and the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS), provided insights, reflections, and suggestions to inform ongoing policy and programme implementation.
The purpose of the Civil Society Forum is:
- To keep sector players informed about key developments in the sector.
- To enable the DBE to receive updates and inputs from Civil society on ongoing education improvement efforts.
- To enhance communication, conversations and collaboration among actor groups in education, thereby reinforcing a shared vision and reducing perceptions.
The Dialogue provided useful information, which will serve as a basis for further engagements. These would include deeper and longer discussions on identified issues, as indicated by the Minister. Stakeholders will be notified of upcoming engagements and are encouraged to share emerging issues, case studies and innovations that could enrich future forums.