As South Africa marks Child Protection Week from May 29 to June 5, 2025, attention turns to one of the country’s most vulnerable groups—children with special needs. While Child Protection Week traditionally focuses on raising awareness around child abuse and neglect, attention is increasingly being drawn to an often-overlooked issue: the challenges preventing children with disabilities from accessing their fundamental right to education.

According to the General Household Survey (2009–2024) released by Statistics South Africa, school attendance patterns among children with special needs have shown notable shifts over the 15-year period. The percentage of children aged 7 to 15 not enrolled in educational institutions dropped from 9,8% in 2009 to 7% by 2014, reflecting early progress. However, the percentage increased to nearly 10% in 2015, reversing some of the earlier gains. Although there were fluctuations in the years that followed, the overall trend showed only a slight improvement. From 2022 to 2024, the percentage remained consistently close to 10%, highlighting the challenges in ensuring access to education for children with disabilities.

Gauteng hosts the largest share (34,8%) of South Africa’s special schools, according to the Department of Basic Education’s 2024 Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) data. The Western Cape follows with 17,4% of special schools and 13,1% of enrolled learners, while KwaZulu-Natal ranks third, accounting for 14,9% of schools and 13% of learners. Although the Eastern Cape holds 8,3% of special schools, it serves a smaller proportion (6,3%) of learners compared to the North West province with 2,2% of special schools and a proportion of 1,0% of learners.

Special schools in South Africa serve a dual purpose—not only do they cater to learners with severe disabilities, but they also function as resource centres for ordinary and full-service schools. By providing specialist expertise and support, they help mainstream institutions better accommodate learners with special needs.

According to the 2024 Master List of Schools, only three provinces have established full-service schools: Mpumalanga leads with 139, followed by the Eastern Cape with 64, and Gauteng with just 20. In contrast, the country has 554 special schools, collectively serving 172,131 learners.

An examination of provincial data from 2009 and 2024 highlights meaningful changes in school attendance among children with special needs aged 7 to 15. Although the national average remained relatively steady over the 16-year period, the data reveals considerable differences across provinces.

The Northern Cape recorded the largest decrease in the percentage of out-of-school children with special needs, with a drop of approximately 13,3 percentage points. Free State and Gauteng also reported notable declines. In contrast, KwaZulu-Natal experienced the most significant increase, with the rate nearly doubling from 8,4% in 2009 to 15,7% in 2024. Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga also saw upward trends.

Throughout both years, Western Cape, Free State, and Mpumalanga consistently reported figures below the national average.

Barriers to Learning: Children with Disabilities Still Left Behind

While South Africa’s Inclusive Education¹ policy promises a schooling system that welcomes all children—regardless of background, culture, ability, disability, gender, or race—the reality for many children with disabilities tells a different story.

Across the country, many schools still lack the basic infrastructure required to accommodate learners with physical disabilities. Ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms are missing from countless campuses, making physical access alone a barrier to education.

Beyond infrastructure, the support services essential to the learning and development of children with disabilities—such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and tailored instructional methods—are often unavailable. A shortage of adequately trained educators further compounds the issue, leaving many children without the specialised attention they need to thrive in the classroom.

Negative attitudes and widespread misconceptions about disability continue to foster environments of social exclusion and bullying. In such settings, children with special needs are not only denied educational access but also a sense of belonging. For many families, the situation is worsened by financial constraints, which make it difficult to access private or specialised institutions that might better serve their children’s needs.

Inclusive education aims to dismantle these barriers by integrating learners with disabilities into mainstream classrooms, challenging harmful stereotypes and promoting equity. When implemented effectively, this approach does more than provide education—it fosters empathy and inclusion, and builds a society that values individuals for their potential, not their perceived limitations.

For more information, visit the Stats SA website at www.statssa.gov.za

[1] Full-service/inclusive schools are first and foremost mainstream education institutions that provide quality education to all learners by supplying the full range of learning needs in an equitable manner. They should strive to achieve access, equity, quality and social justice in education. Source: Guidelines for Full Service Schools, DBE, 2010

References:

Department of Basic Education, 2001. Education White Paper 6: Special needs education, building an inclusive education and training system

Department of Basic Education, 2010. Guidelines for Full-service/Inclusive Schools

Statistics South Africa, 2009-2024. Statistical Release P0318.2. General Household Survey, Selected Development Indicators