Education in South Africa South Africa has 12.3-million learners, some 386 600 teachers and 26 292 schools, including 1 098 registered independent or private schools. Of all schools, roughly 6 000 are high schools (grade 7 to grade 12) and the rest primary (grade 0 to grade 6).
In government-funded public schools, the average ratio of scholars (known as "learners" in terms of the country's outcomes-based education system) to teachers ("educators") is 32.6 to one, while private schools generally have one teacher for every 17.5 scholars.
The national Department of Education is responsible for education across the country as a whole, while each of the nine provinces has its own education department.
The central government provides a national framework for school policy, but administrative responsibility lies with the provinces. Power is further devolved to grass roots level via elected school governing bodies, which have a significant say in the running of their schools.