Skip Navigation

The Education System in South Africa


Figure A-16. Levels of education in South Africa, by age and year of schooling: 2013

Levels of education in South Africa, by age and year of schooling: 2013

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.

Preprimary:

  • Common name: Preschool, Early childhood development (ECD)
  • Ages of attendance: As early as age 3 through age 5
  • Number of years: 1 to 2
  • Start of universal enrollment: Data not available
  • Compulsory: No

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.

Primary:

  • Common name: Foundation (Junior primary), Intermediate (Senior primary)
  • Ages of attendance: 6 through 12
  • Number of years: 7
  • Start of universal enrollment: Age 7
  • Universal enrollment: Data not available
  • Compulsory: Yes, begins at age 7

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.

Lower secondary:

  • Common name: Senior phase, Lower secondary education
  • Ages of attendance: 13 through 15
  • Number of years: 3
  • Universal enrollment: Data not available
  • Compulsory: Yes, through age 14
  • Entrance/exit criteria: No

Upper secondary:

  • Common name: Further Education and Training (FET), Senior secondary school
  • Ages of attendance: 16 through 18
  • Number of years: 3
  • Universal enrollment: Data not available.
  • Compulsory: No
  • Entrance/exit criteria: Certificates are awarded on completion of grades 10 and 11. At the end of grade 12, students take a public examination leading to the National Senior Certificate (equivalent to a high school diploma). To earn the National Senior Certificate, students must take at least six subjects, but they have the option to include three others, which are not compulsory.

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.

Postsecondary and tertiary:

  • Common name: College, technikon/university of technology, comprehensive university, traditional university
  • Ages of attendance: Varies
  • Number of years: Varies according to degree
  • Universal enrollment: Data not available
  • Entrance criteria: The minimum entrance qualification for a technikon/university of technology program is a National Senior Certificate (taken after year 12 of Further Education and Training). Depending on the degree program, there may be additional entrance requirements.

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.

Common degree programs:

  • Certificate: 1-year programs offered at universities of technology and technikons in the technical and professional field
  • National higher certificate: 2-year programs offered at universities of technology and technikons in the technical and professional field
  • National diploma: 3-year programs offered at universities of technology and technikons in the technical and professional field
  • National higher diploma: 4-year programs offered at universities of technology and technikons in the technical and professional field
  • Bachelor's degree: 3-or 4-year academic programs at universities of technology and technikons, which usually require 1 year of placement in industry. Require 5 years in the case of architecture and law, 5½ years in the case of veteri-nary medicine, 6 years in the case of medicine and surgery.
  • Postgraduate diploma: Requires 1 year of study in addition to a bachelor's degree.
  • Honors degree: Requires 1 year of study in addition to a bachelor's degree. Admission usually requires an above average level of academic achievement in the bachelor's degree program.
  • Master's degree: Graduate programs at a university requiring 1 year beyond the bachelor's degree as well as a thesis.
  • Doctorate: Academic graduate programs at a university requiring at least 2 years on a full-time basis after the master's degree. Doctoral programs prepare students for careers in research.

Sources:

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/.

Top