The Western Cape Education Sector Analysis, jointly prepared by the World Bank and South Africa’s Western Cape Education Department (WCED), offers key insights and recommendations for improving the quality of learning in the province’s schools while addressing the growing demand for access due to rising enrolments. The Western Cape is a coastal province at the southernmost tip of South Africa, home to a culturally diverse population spread across agricultural and fishing towns, various townships, and the city of Cape Town.
The province boasts higher learning levels than other provinces in South Africa, due to factors including the WCED’s active support to subsidize schools and support students from poor households beyond national policy requirements. Compared to other provinces, the Western Cape allocates significant funds to scholar transport and special needs education. It is also the only province that consistently administers learning assessments to track progress. Additionally, it implemented its own comprehensive program in response to COVID-related school closures.
However, like the rest of South Africa, the Western Cape faces a learning crisis. In 2016, 55% of Grade 4 students in the Western Cape were found to be functionally illiterate on an international assessment measuring learning achievement (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study). Reading levels further dipped in 2021 due to COVID-related school closures.
The analysis offers four distinct solutions to improve learning quality while expanding access:
1. Strengthening Early Childhood Development (ECD) service provision and early grades primary education is prioritized as investments during early years provide high returns.
2. Strengthening teacher effectiveness through continuous professional development focused on teaching methods and addressing diverse student abilities within classrooms.
3. Investing in innovative education reforms such as Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) will help address learning challenges and realize high returns on education investment.
4. Investing in monitoring and evaluation of all initiatives ensures implementation is on track with data used for regular assessment and course correction. Enhancing WCED's capacity for program evaluation and nurturing partnerships with research institutions are recommended.