SADTU KZN STATEMENT ON THE STATE OF READINESS FOR SCHOOL RE-OPENING
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in KwaZulu Natal has been inundated with panic calls from some school principals who are worried by the poor state of readiness for schools reopening. Schools are re-opening on the 14th of January 2026 and are expected to deliver the first lesson in all subjects for all grades in the school.
Unfortunately, principals as they report to their Union indicate that they have not received the necessary requirements like stationery, textbooks as well as all other things like cleaning materials to ensure that schools are thoroughly cleaned to welcome learners and teachers back.
Having listened to the concerns of school principals who called, SADTU KZN decided to conduct a survey with the purpose of gathering tangible information on the state of readiness for each school in the province. This survey required principals to respond to matters such as the availability of LTSM, filling of vacancies, number of learners, cleanliness of the school, security, etc. Based on the information they submitted, they were required to state their view on whether their schools were ready to reopen. If not, they were required to give reasons.
The survey form was released to school principals in the evening on the 6th of January 2026. So far 247 school principals participated in the survey and 54% report that their schools are not ready while 46% report to be ready though some in this cohort talk about partial readiness. Based on further analysis of the school readiness survey data, the major challenges facing schools are as follows:
- Whilst 60.1% of participating schools in Umlazi reported to be ready, high level of unreadiness were found in Umkhanyakude (69.6%), Ugu (69.4%), Ilembe (68.6%). In these three districts more than two-thirds of schools indicated unreadiness.
- Through the findings of the survey, failure to pay the basic financial allocations is the reason schools are not ready for re-opening. For example, 72.4% of schools report that they did not receive their allocation (norms and standards).
- Further to this, 56.7% schools indicate that they do not have the Learning and Teaching Support Materials (LTSM) as those schools that rely on central procurement are still waiting for deliveries from DOE. These include stationery, textbooks, and workbooks.
- Section 21 (C) did not receive their basic financial allocation in Oct/Nov 2025; they could not put orders for the LTSM as there was no indication as to when the Department was planning to pay them.
With this information at hand, SADTU is planning to engage the HOD and the management of the Department so that at least these schools are told how they are expected to function without these necessities. It is unfortunate that the failure of the department on its on Constitutional obligation has become a common occurrence. Even in 2025 schools encountered the same situation and the Union intervened through engaging the employer which made a commitment to service providers. However, those commitments were never met leading to some principals by threatened by providers who wanted their monies which the DOE was failing to pay without explanation after delivery of LTSM to Section 21 (c) schools.
Looking at the school readiness survey findings, all schools are affected. This means those that rely on central procurement and the ones that procure on their own are affected. It is important not to forget why schools are in this dilemma. As said above, the issue of financial problems is not new but at least there has been no challenges with delivery of LTSM to schools of central procurement. Schools are in this mess because of decisions that are taken without due diligence. SADTU warned about the implication of the decision of the Provincial Treasury to impose PFMA Section 18 which dictates that the Department of Education in KZN cannot do any procurement without the approval of Department of Finance. That decision prevented the placing of orders by schools/KZNDOE which normally happens in May. It was only in October 2025 that a greenlight was given but ONLY for the procurement of stationery (not textbooks) for Section 20 schools by the MEC for Finance. Under normal circumstances, orders are initiated in May so that deliveries to schools are done from October.
Further to this is the non-payment of norms and standards to Section 21 schools. All this suggests that schools will have to wait for the Department of Finance to decide whether it reconsiders its decision on the procurement of textbooks.
In future it will be important for this super department of Finance to understand the implications of the decisions they take particularly if those decisions are about other departments.
Way forward
SADTU in KwaZulu Natal has requested a meeting with the department. The purpose of the meeting is to present and discuss the challenges faced by schools as they are expected to re-open and function next week. The said meeting will take place on the 10th of January 2026. After this meeting, the Union will have a meeting with its members who are school principals to give feedback on discussions with the employer.
ISSUED BY: SADTU KZN Provincial Secretariat