NOTE: Education levels are defined according to the 1997 International Standard
Classification of Education (ISCED97). Ages represent the typical age at the beginning
of the school year.
Universal enrollment data are not available for South Africa. Numbers highlighted
represent the age at which compulsory enrollment begins through the age at which
compulsory enrollment ends. No meaning should be inferred from width of subdivisions.
SOURCE: AngloInfo. South Africa: The School System. Retrieved June 26,
2013, from
http://southafrica.angloinfo.com/family/schooling-education/school-system/;
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (2013a). Education at a Glance
2013: OECD Indicators. Paris: Author; United Nations Education, Scientific
and Cultural Organization, International Bureau of Education. (2010). World Data
on Education, 2010/11 (7th edition). Profile on South Africa.
Paris: Author. Retrieved June 24, 2013, from
http://www.ibe.unesco.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/WDE/2010/pdf-versions/South_Africa.pdf;
World Education News and Reviews. (2004). Institutions of Higher Education in South
Africa after the Mergers. Retrieved June 24, 2013, from
http://www.wes.org/ewenr/04may/Feature.htm.
NOTE: Most preschool education programs are managed by the private sector. The Department of (Basic) Education in South Africa focuses most of its work on developing policies and programs beginning in the reception year (grade R) through the senior phase of secondary school.
NOTE: General education and training (GET) is compulsory for all students from a reception year (grade R) and other foundation grades (1–3) through an intermediate phase (grades 4–6) and senior phase (grades 7–9). Grade R is designed for 5-year-olds. The Government of South Africa plans to enroll all 5-year-olds in grade R by 2014. As a general rule, children are required to start primary education in the year when they turn 7.
NOTE: Technical secondary education is offered by technical centers, high schools, and vocational schools. Vocational training programs generally last 3 years, leading to the National Certifi cate (Vocational) NCV3, which is considered equivalent to the National Senior Certificate if students have also passed English and Afrikaans. The NCV1 and NCV2 are also awarded on completion of 1 or 2 years of vocational training.
NOTE: Technikons and universities of technology offer post-secondary programs in applied disciplines such as business, design, engineering, health sciences, the performing arts, and technology. Comprehensive universities offer programs and degrees in the traditional arts and sciences fields as well as those offered by technikons. Traditional universities were the first universities in South Africa and offer a wide range of degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
AngloInfo. South Africa: The School System. Retrieved June 26, 2013, from http://southafrica.angloinfo.com/family/schooling-education/school-system/.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (2013a). Education at a Glance 2013: OECD Indicators. Paris: Author.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, International Bureau of Education. (2010). World Data on Education, 2010/11 (7th edition). Profile on South Africa. Paris: Author. Retrieved June 24, 2013, from http://www.ibe.unesco.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/WDE/2010/pdf-versions/South_Africa.pdf.
World Education News and Reviews. (2004). Institutions of Higher Education in South Africa After the Mergers. Retrieved April 3, 2015, from http://wenr.wes.org/2004/05/wenr-mayjune-2004-institutions-of-higher-education-in-south-africa-after-the-mergers/.