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SA Policy Space

Inclusive Education: Special Needs Schools and Full-Service Schools Expansion

Government CapacityProposedLong TermRaised 2× in committeeBasic Education

Theme: Inclusive education

First raisedSept 2023Last discussedSept 2024No committee discussion in 12+ months2 meetings on the record ↓
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Reform at a glance

What changes
Inclusive Education: Special Needs Schools and Full-Service Schools Expansion
Responsible actor (recorded)
Department of Basic Education / DSD / DoH
Recorded status
Proposed — editorial assessment.
Milestone described by this status
Status scope has not yet been independently documented; it may cover only part of this reform.
Next documented milestone
Next milestone not yet documented
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Description

South Africa's Education White Paper 6 (2001) committed to a full-service inclusive education system, but implementation has lagged severely. There are approximately 460 special schools nationally serving children with moderate-to-severe barriers to learning, but these schools are overcrowded and under-resourced. The DBE's plan to convert 30% of ordinary schools to 'full-service schools' — equipped to accommodate learners with mild-to-moderate barriers to learning — has stalled at under 10% national conversion. Key gaps include shortage of specialised educators, lack of assistive devices and accessible infrastructure, and inadequate inter-departmental coordination with the Department of Social Development. Amendments to the South African Schools Act to mandate reasonable accommodation are under consideration.

Assessment

Growth Impact2/5
Feasibility3/5

Responsible: Department of Basic Education / DSD / DoH

Feasibility Assessment

A constitutional rights obligation and long-term workforce development contribution. Progress has been negligible for 30 years despite repeated policy commitments. Requires dedicated funding for specialist teacher training, building modifications, and assistive technology — all of which compete with more visible education priorities.

OECD

Referenced in OECD Economic Surveys: South Africa

OECD SA Survey (2017, 2020, 2025). Education quality improvement is a recurring OECD recommendation across all surveys.

Evidence & Research

No linked research evidence yet. Coverage is incomplete.

Policy documents

No linked official-document evidence yet. Coverage is incomplete.

Parliamentary record

2 meetings

Committee sittings this reform was drawn from, most recent first. Each row opens the meeting on this site; the PMG link goes to the source record.

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Status History

tracked since Mar 2026
  1. Recorded as Proposed when status tracking began — held since at least Mar 2026.
    Mar 2026

Data as of 2026-10-10 · latest PMG meeting 2026-10-02