South Africa Education and Training Sector Snapshot
Last published date:

Capital:  Pretoria

Population:  57.5 million (2022 est.)

GDP (Purchasing Power Parity):  $680.04 billion (2020 est., in 2017 dollars)

Currency:  South African Rand (ZAR)

Language:  Whilst English is generally regarded as the primary medium of instruction in education, South Africa does have 11 other official languages:  Zulu (22.7% of the population), Xhosa (16%), Afrikaans (13.5%), English (9.6%), Northern Sotho (9.1%), Tswana (8%), Sotho (7.6%), Tsonga (4.5%), Swati (2.5%), Venda (2.4%) and Ndebele (2.1%) 

 

UNESCO Student Mobility Number
South Africa has 12,295 students studying abroad according to UNESCO.

CIA World Factbook
44.74% of the population in South Africa is under 25 years of age.

 

OVERVIEW

General

South Africa is the most advanced, diversified, and productive economy in Africa.  Boasting one of the most pro-business environments on the continent, South Africa is a logical and attractive option for U.S. companies seeking to enter the Sub-Saharan African marketplace.  The country covers 1.22 million square kilometers and is the world’s largest producer of platinum, vanadium, chromium, and manganese.

Economy

South Africa has enjoyed relative macroeconomic stability but is facing increasingly strong headwinds due to the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.  The economy expanded by 0.8 percent in 2018 and by 0.2 percent to $350 billion in 2019.  While the Covid-19 pandemic led to a 7 percent contraction to $302 billion in 2020, the GDP bounced back in 2021 to $420 billion, but still lower than 2011, when GDP and GDP per capita was at its highest.  Inflation remains relatively low, but interest rates have nearly doubled over the past two years after enjoying record lows.   

The maturity of the South African economy is reflected in the mix of economic sectors:  

  • Primary (including agriculture, fishing, and mining):  10 percent
  • Secondary (manufacturing, construction, and utilities):  21 percent 
  • Tertiary (trade, transport, and services):  69 percent

The number of South African students studying in the United States increased to 2,375 students, placing South Africa 5th in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of students studying in the U.S.  With 17.4 percent of the total South African population aged between 15- 24, there is significant potential to increase this number.

The South African education system is divided as follows: pre-high school (7 years), high school (6 years), lower secondary (also known as the “senior phase”) lasts through grade 9 and is mandatory.  Students typically begin lower secondary at age 12 or 13.  The curriculum for lower secondary school includes the home language, an additional language, mathematics, natural science, social science, technology, economics and management sciences, life orientation, and arts and culture.  Students receive 27.5 hours of classroom instruction per week.  Upper secondary, also known as further education and training (FET), lasts through grade 12, and is not compulsory.  Entry into this phase requires an official record of completion of grade nine.  Just as in the intermediate and senior phases, this phase comprises 27.5 classroom hours per week.  The academic year calendar runs from mid-January to early-December.

Traditionally the recommended times for U.S. education institutions to visit South Africa are May, July (private schools), August (public schools), and September.

SUB-SECTORS

SECTOR (OPEN DOORS REPORT 2021)

SECTOR (OPEN DOORS REPORT 2021)

PERCENTAGE & NUMBER             BY SECTOR % (2021-2022)

% CHANGE IN SECTOR

(From previous year)

 

UNDERGRADUATE

58.6% (1,394)

16.1%

 

GRADUATE

27.3% (650)

20.4%

 

NON-DEGREE

2.0% (46)

7%

 

OPT

12.0% (285)

-3.4%

 

 Study in the U.S. by Institution Type

%

Associate (2 year) Colleges

11.6%

Baccalaureate (4 year) Colleges

10.4%

Doctorate – granting Universities

57%

Masters Colleges and Universities

15.9%

Special Focus Institutions

5.1%

Public Institutions

48.3%

Private Institutions

51.7%
         

 

Top 5 Study Destinations for South African Students in the U.S.

  • New York
  • California
  • Massachusetts
  • Texas
  • Pennsylvania
  •  

OPPORTUNITIES 

The United States - South Africa Higher Education Network is a coalition of universities, foundations, and government agencies dedicated to building a brighter future by strengthening ties among our institutions of higher education.  U.S. community college Associates degrees are now recognized as an equivalent to the National Diploma in accordance with the South African Qualification Authority.

There are some South Africa government ministries that sponsor students or provide living stipends for study abroad in certain fields, namely, the Department of Agriculture and the National Arts Council.  Few private organizations fund scholarships to the U.S., but the National Research Foundation and First Rand Bank’s Laurie Dippenaar Scholarship have funded graduate students.

DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIES   

Most students in South Africa use social media platforms.  Social media has gained a lot of interest in the young population of the country and has become the go-to tool for disseminating information.  The most popular social media sites are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, WeChat, and Snapchat.  These are the same platforms used by in-country schools and competitor countries to reach and recruit students.  Facebook Live, YouTube, and Instagram are the most popular for streaming videos in South Africa.  When searching for information, students typically use the Google search engine and similar research tools.  

Increased Collaboration with South African Institutes: There is great appetite amongst South African Higher Education Institutes for collaboration with regards to curriculum development, research, as well as student and faculty exchange programs.

EVENTS

 RESOURCES

U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE CONTACT

Sanjay Harryparshad, Commercial Specialist

U.S. Commercial Service – Johannesburg, South Africa

Email: Sanjay.Harryparshad@trade.gov

Phone: +27 71 685 8515