Ekurhuleni: President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa's education system can only succeed if learners acquire strong literacy and numeracy skills in the early years of schooling. The President was addressing the 2026 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni on Wednesday. He said the country's commitment to a resilient and capable education system must begin in the early grades, where the foundations for all future learning are laid.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Lekgotla opened on a sombre note, with delegates observing a moment of silence for the 12 pupils who lost their lives in a scholar transport accident in the Vaal area. President Ramaphosa expressed condolences to the families, teachers, and classmates of the children who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the crash.

Turning to education outcomes, the President emphasised that strengthening early grade reading and numeracy was both a national priority and a moral imperative. He warned that weak foundations led to repetition, dropout, and poor progression throughout the schooling system. He stated that unless foundational skills are established early, learners spend their school careers trying to catch up.

President Ramaphosa said the government was intensifying its focus on evidence-based teaching of literacy and numeracy, teacher training, and access to quality learning materials. He highlighted the importance of a coherent curriculum supported by well-trained teachers, along with quality learning and teaching support materials.

The President noted that investing in foundational learning would help build a resilient education system capable of sustaining learning, adapting to shocks, and equipping children with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. He also pointed out South Africa's involvement in international collaboration platforms on foundational learning, including the Head of States Network formed during recent G20 Education meetings.

President Ramaphosa acknowledged progress in matric results but cautioned that inequality resurfaces when early learning foundations are weak. He described the achievements of the Class of 2025 as a 'silent revolution', particularly highlighting the increased participation of learners from no-fee schools in higher education. He emphasized the need for early learning to be anchored at the core of the education system, from birth to the age of nine, to ensure successful onward learning and lifelong development.

The President called on all sectors of society to work together to place foundational learning at the heart of education reform.