Policy Briefs Archives - Research on Socio-Economic Policy (RESEP)

Life after school for recent matriculants in South Africa

In this policy brief, Gabrielle Wills, identifies six insights into the realities facing young matriculants after school in South Africa.
The available opportunities for youth after completing school have not grown commensurately with improvements in school completion.

May 26, 2025 By: Gabrielle Wills PDF

The evolving returns to education in post-apartheid South Africa

In this policy brief, Timothy Köhler, summarises key findings on the returns to education in South Africa over the period 2001 to 2023 from his paper titled “A Paradox of Progress: Rising Education and Unequal Labour Market Returns in Post-Apartheid South Africa”.

May 26, 2025 By: Timothy Köhler PDF

Avoiding inaccuracy: How should learner disability status be identified in EMIS?

We report on the quality and completeness of disability-disaggregated enrolment data in the education management information system
(EMIS) in two provinces in South Africa. We show there has been a dramatic decline in the number of learners with disabilities enrolled in schools in Gauteng from 2017 to 2023.

February 6, 2025 By: Nicola Deghaye & Grace Leach PDF

The impact of the 2023 Back-on-Track Programme on learning: A Report to the Western Cape Education Department

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) 2023 Back-on-Track (BoT) initiative is proving to be a groundbreaking step towards educational recovery. This R1.2 billion programme has targeted critical learning gaps in mathematics and language, focusing on Grades 4, 7, and 8. The results, independently evaluated by RESEP, reveal remarkable gains in learning outcomes.

December 19, 2024 By: Servaas van der Berg, Chris van Wyk & Chloé van Biljon PDF

How Well Have Full-Service Schools Been Prepared for Disability-Inclusion?

Ultimately, learners with disabilities should be accommodated at schools in their neighbourhood, where they should have access to all programmes of support (Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support Policy, 2014).

September 11, 2023 By: RESEP PDF

Mathematics performance of South African primary school learners: Lessons from TIMSS 2019

By examining Grade 5 mathematics performance, this paper primarily investigates how learner performance for selected sub-samples relates to and is affected by, a select set of standard covariates

June 20, 2022 By: Joel Gondwe PDF

School Teacher Supply and Demand in South Africa in 2019 and Beyond

This research report was produced for the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE). The study was undertaken to assess demand for, and supply of, teachers in the public service, in order to better inform teacher training policy.

March 13, 2022 By: Servaas van der Berg, Martin Gustafsson, and Cobus Burger PDF

How satisfied are school principals with support and compliance visits by district officials?

Introduction As a positive relationship between schools and education districts can help to secure school improvement and learning outcomes, we have explored the accountability arrangements…

February 17, 2022 By: Carol Nuga Deliwe, Dineo Seabe PDF

Policy Briefs

Life after school for recent matriculants in South Africa

The evolving returns to education in post-apartheid South Africa

Avoiding inaccuracy: How should learner disability status be identified in EMIS?

The impact of the 2023 Back-on-Track Programme on learning: A Report to the Western Cape Education Department

How Well Have Full-Service Schools Been Prepared for Disability-Inclusion?

Mathematics performance of South African primary school learners: Lessons from TIMSS 2019

School Teacher Supply and Demand in South Africa in 2019 and Beyond

How satisfied are school principals with support and compliance visits by district officials?

Popular Posts

Other Readings

Contact Information

Address

Sign Up for our Newsletter