Minister Gwarube prioritises foundational learning in South Africa
Minister Gwarube meets IPNEd’s Executive Director, Joseph Nhan O’Reilly', at a high-level Ministerial roundtable on foundational learning co-organised by IPNEd in the UK parliament in May 2025.
Minister of Education, Siviwe Gwarube MP in South Africa, shares that foundational learning is her first priority in government.
Interviewed by the Oxford Policy Pod, the official podcast of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, Minister Gwarube outlines five pillars to ensuring every child learns.
These pillars include early childhood development, early grade literacy and numeracy, teacher training, safe infrastructure and inclusive education.
Ms. Siviwe Gwarube is South Africa's Minister of Basic Education and one of the country's youngest-ever Cabinet members, bringing a new voice and vision to the continent’s education leadership.
In a recent interview by Oxford Policy Pod, the official podcast of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, Minister Gwarube reflects on her first year in office, including some of the challenges she’s seen, what guides her approach and what she is prioritising.
Minister Gwarube shared that at the start of her term as Minister in 2024, she asked herself, “What is the one thing that can give every child - even in the most remote village - a fair chance in life?”
Her response: Literacy - making sure children learn basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics to enable children to fulfil their potential, regardless of their background.
Minister Gwarube explains that when children learn basic skills at their grade level and comprehend what they are learning, they are less likely to drop out early, more likely to stay in school, and more likely to pursue secondary and higher education. This makes learning a powerful tool to break cycles of poverty and demonstrates how education can be an equaliser.
She lays out important pillars of her strategy to improve the quality of education in South Africa:
Early childhood development: Focusing on the first 2,000 days of life
Early grade foundational skills: Making sure children acquire the basics in literacy and numeracy by Grade 4
Teacher training: Providing ongoing teacher training that includes practical, hands-on training
School infrastructure: Ensuring schools are safe and foster dignity through maintenance and accessibility
Inclusive education: Meeting the needs of children with disabilities
Minister Gwarube also reflects on the mental toll of public leadership, the power of authenticity and why prioritising foundational learning is not just a pedagogical choice, but a political one.
Listen to the full interview on Spotify here.
