IN a country still reeling from the historical injustices of apartheid, South Africa’s education system is a microcosm of the broader societal inequalities that continue to plague the nation.

The latest findings from the Afrobarometer survey underscore the urgent need for reform as widespread corruption and significant disparities in educational attainment, as well as economic and racial inequities, hinder progress towards equitable education for all.

Revelations from the recent Afrobarometer report indicate that a shocking one in ten South Africans who interacted with public schools last year reported being compelled to pay bribes for necessary services.

This form of corruption, reported to “most often victimise the least educated and poorest citizens”, reveals the systemic rot that affects a system meant to uplift and educate. The report stated: “Among citizens who had contact with public schools during the year preceding the survey, more than eight in ten (84%) say they found it easy to obtain the services they needed,” but the presence of bribery shatters this illusion of accessibility and fairness.

Educational attainment remains sharply divided along economic and racial lines. The survey reveals that a staggering “eight in ten White South Africans (80%) are degree holders”, compared to only “22% of Black South Africans” and “27% of Coloureds”. This glaring discrepancy lays bare the lingering effects of apartheid’s legacy, where access to quality education for the Black majority and other minorities was systematically restricted.

The survey findings confirm that, “on average, younger South Africans have more education than their elders”, yet striking educational disadvantages persist for poor respondents and Black/African and Coloured/mixed-race citizens.

Moreover, the Afrobarometer found that almost half of South Africans (46%) expressed concern that “school-age children who are not in school” are a “somewhat frequent or very frequent problem in their community”. This statistic is particularly concerning, as it highlights the alarming number of young people who are deprived of essential educational opportunities.

Poorer respondents are about twice as likely to perceive out-of-school children as a common problem compared to their wealthier counterparts, with 55% of the Coloured population and 48% of Black citizens identifying it as a frequent issue. The implications of such a situation extend beyond individual children; they threaten the future of the country’s workforce and its economic viability.

Access to quality education is further undermined by the socioeconomic divides that separate the affluent from the disadvantaged. The survey reflects that while more than eight in ten South Africans have secondary or post-secondary education, “educational opportunities vary widely by economic status and race”.

This inconsistency in educational quality not only perpetuates inequality but also maintains cycles of poverty and disadvantage. As reported, urban residents are significantly more likely to have post-secondary education than their rural counterparts (34% vs 20%), illustrating yet another layer of disparity in access to education based on geographical location.

Notably, while the survey found that women and men are nearly equal in post-secondary educational attainment, it is crucial to note that these achievements do not erase the broader racial and economic disparities pervasive in the system.

The report emphasises that educated youth “who have more education than their elders” may not equate to equitable opportunities for all, particularly when entrenched systemic barriers remain. The findings reveal that educational attainment is not only a reflection of individual effort but is also deeply entwined with the socioeconomic contexts from which these individuals emerge.

South Africa’s education system is at a crossroads.

While pockets of progress and increased educational attainment among younger generations offer hope, the entrenched issues of corruption and inequity threaten to stymie these advancements. As the Afrobarometer findings illustrate, there remains a profound need for systemic change to rectify the injustices of the past and ensure that all South Africans — regardless of their race, economic status, or gender — can access the quality education they deserve.

With education ranking eighth on the list of problems that citizens want their government to address, as cited by 8% of respondents, it is clear that the citizens of South Africa are calling for action. As the survey reveals, “unemployment is the foremost concern”, but a nation cannot address joblessness without first equipping its youth with the necessary skills and knowledge. It is a call to action that society can no longer afford to ignore.

The time for accountability is now, as both the government and civil society must come together to eradicate the pervasive corruption and inequities in education. The future of South Africa hinges on the collective responsibility to build an equitable education system that uplifts and empowers every citizen, ensuring that no child is left behind in the quest for knowledge and opportunity.