Naptosa warns many KZN schools may not be ready to open on Wednesday
Teachers’ union NAPTOSA warns KwaZulu-Natal schools may not be ready for the 2026 academic year, citing staff shortages, missing materials, and unpaid allocations, urging urgent government action to secure Day 1 learning.
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The National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) has expressed concern over the state of readiness of schools in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the 2026 academic year.
According to the teachers’ union, a survey conducted over two days, covering 150 schools across the province, revealed that a significant number of schools are not fully prepared to welcome learners on the first day.
Naptosa KwaZulu-Natal highlighted that school principals reported heightened anxiety, citing critical challenges including staff shortages, non-delivery of Learning and Teaching Support Materials (LTSM), and the non-payment of financial allocations dating back to 2025.
The union noted that the situation is particularly worrying in special schools, with many indicating that they may not be able to open on Wednesday.
Naptosa said that several schools had indicated that they would be unable to provide meals on the first day of the academic year, a situation that could have serious implications for learner wellbeing, attendance, and readiness to learn.
It added that KwaZulu-Natal is the largest province, and while some unexpected operational glitches may occur, the magnitude and nature of the challenges currently being reported are deeply concerning.
Naptosa said that the challenges point either to an administration struggling with the size and complexity of the department or to ongoing financial constraints.
While the union acknowledged these realities, it stressed the importance of transparent communication with schools and stakeholders.
Naptosa said schools and principals “must be informed of the challenges facing the department and, critically, the plans in place to address them.''
''Principals cannot be left in the dark when they are directly accountable to parents, educators, and the broader community,'' the union said.
The union warned that every day of lost teaching time has a negative impact on curriculum coverage, learner performance, and overall educational outcomes.
Naptosa stated that it is “imperative that teaching and learning begin on the very first day of the school year.
''Schools must be adequately resourced and supported to ensure that no instructional time is lost and that learners are productively engaged from Day 1.''
Calling on government action, Naptosa KZN urged the Department of Education “to urgently address these concerns and to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure a stable, functional, and effective start to the 2026 academic year.”
IOL has reached out to the Department of Education for comment and will update the story once a response is received.
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