Among issues under the spotlight heading into the 2026 school year is the implementation of a compulsory Grade R year in the ...

Almost 900 Eastern Cape grade R teachers will soon have permanent government jobs, pending adoption of the new budget later in November. The teachers, currently on annual contracts without benefits, ...

The integration of Grade R into the formal schooling system must be approached with caution, as the demands for specific qualifications among Grade R teachers have the potential to disrupt learning.

With Grade R now fully integrated into formal schooling, the Basic Education Department demands minimum NQF Level 6 qualifications for all educators. A sizeable backlog of unqualified teachers must ...

While the Bela Act makes Grade R attendance compulsory, the National Treasury’s refusal to allocate additional funding leaves provinces struggling to deliver on the promise of universal early ...