an outdated browser. For a faster, safer browsing experience, upgrade for free today." width="820" height="42" />an outdated browser. For a faster, safer browsing experience, upgrade for free today." width="820" height="42" />
To provide for a uniform system for the organisation, governance and funding of schools; to amend and repeal certain laws relating to schools; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
Last update: June 2024
Copyright: This Act reproduced under Government Printers Copyright Authority 10154 dated 20 March 1996
Disclaimer: This Act is presented "as is". Please read our Disclaimer before continuing.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996), has been updated with Amendments to Annexure A Table 2, Annexure B Table 3, and Annexure C Table 3 of the Regulations under Notice 1114 of 28 December 2012: Regulations pertaining to the National Curriculum Statement for Grades R-12, as per Notice No. 4947 of GG50768, dated 7 June 2024.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996), has been updated with Regulations Relating to Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure, 2023 , as per Notice No. 4895 of GG50724, dated 28 May 2024.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996), has been updated with National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSSF), as per Notice No. 3964 of GG49491, dated 12 October 2023.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996), has been updated with Amendments to National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSF) under Notice No. 869 of 31 August 2006: Effective 1 January 2023, as per Notice No. 2874 of GG47755, dated 15 December 2022.
The South African Schools Act 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996), has been updated with the National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSF), as per Notice No. 2648 of GG47324, dated 17 October 2022.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996) has been updated with Amendment Regulations pertaining to the National Curriculum Statement for Grades R-12 of Notice No. R. 1114 of 2012, as per Notice No. 2455 of GG46847 dated 2 September 2022.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996) has been updated by the publication of Amended National Norms and Standards for School Funding, as per Notice No. 2409 of GG46786 dated 25 August 2022.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996) has been updated by the publication of Amended National Norms and Standards for School Funding, as per Notice No. 192 of GG44254 dated 10 March 2021.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996) has been updated by the publication of an Abridged version of the current Section 4 of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement for Grade 12, as per Notice No. 1335 of GG43987 dated 11 December 2020.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996) has been updated with the Amended National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSSF) as per Notice No. 366 of GG43145 dated 27 March 2020.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996) has been updated with the National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSSF) as per Notice No. 92 of GG42999 dated 7 February 2020.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996) has been updated by the Implementation of the Abridged version of the amended Section Four of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement for Grades R-12 as per Notice No. 1429, GG42829, dated 8 November 2019.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996) has been updated by Regulations, Regulations pertaining to the National Curriculum Statement for Grades R-12, 6. Promotion Requirements, Grades R-12 as per Notice No. 1495 of GG 40472 dated 2 December 2016.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996) has been updated by Regulations, Regulations pertaining to the National Curriculum Statement for Grades R-12, Annexures, Annexure B : Approved subjects for the Intermediate Phase, Grades 4-6, Table 2: Non-official languages as per Notice No. R. 235 of GG 38589 dated 20 March 2015.
The South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No 84 of 1996) has been updated by the addition of Notices, Determination of Minimum Outcomes and Standards and a National Process and Procedures for the Assessment of Learner Achievement as stipulated in the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements for South African Sign Language at Home Language Level for Grades R-12 by Notice No. 626 dated 13 August 2014.
This Act has been updated by Notice No. 424 in Government Gazette No. 34290 dated 13 May 2011.
This Act has been updated with an amendment in Notice No. 47 in Government Gazette No. 33971 dated 28 January 2011.
The National Education Policy Act, 1996 and
the South African Schools Act, 1996 have been updated by Notices No. 349 and 351 in Government Gazette No. 33160 dated 6 May 2010, regarding discontinuation of CTAS in Grade 9, and an amendment to the National Policy, 2007.
The Act has been updated with National Norms and Standards for School Funding-Notice No. 1179 printed in Government Gazette No. 32804 dated 11 December 2009.
This Act has been updated by Government Notice No. 1135 – Amendment to National Norms and Standards for School Funding – published in Government Gazette No. 32772 dated 3 December 2009.
This Act has been updated with Government Notice No. 78 of 2009 relating to a change of date in the National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSSF), published in Government Gazette No. 31848 dated 30 January 2009.
The Act has been updated by the inclusion of:
Amended Norms and Standards for School Funding – in Government Gazette No. 29179 dated 31 August 2006; as well as a correction notice to that dated 14 December 2006, and an amendment dated 8 October 2008;
Government Notice No. 1149 of 2008 relating to Drug Testing in Schools; and
An approval for change of date of registration for the 2010 and 2011 Senior Certificate Examination in Government Gazette No. 31535 dated 31 October 2008;
This Act has been amended by the Education Laws Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No. 31 of 2007), as published in Government Gazette No. 30637 dated 31 December 2007;
Notice No. 918 of 2007 published in Government Gazette No. 30111 dated 23 July 2007 entitled "Approval to call for written submissions from stakeholder bodies and members of the public on the policy and regulation changes emanated from the decision to implement a combined supplementary and end-of-year Senior Certificate Examination in May/June 2008, and one main examination in May/June from 2009 until 2011" , is available in Government Gazette No. 30111;
Publication of List of No Fee Schools per Province : declaring no fee schools in 2007 for all nine Provinces has been added to the Act as published in Notice No. 1205 in Government Gazette No. 29438 dated 1 December 2006;
Regulations relating to the Exemption of Parents from Payment of School Fees in Public Schools has been added to the Act as published in Notice No. R. 1052 in Government Gazette No.29311 dated 18 October 2006
Amended National Norms and Standards for School Funding has been added to the Act as published in Notice No. 869 in Government Gazette No. 29179 dated 31 August 2006;
National Norms and Standards for School Funding has been added to the Act as published in Notice No. 868 in Government Gazette No. 29178 dated 31 August 2006;
This Act has been amended by the Education Laws Amendment Act, No. 24 of 2005 published in Government Gazette No. 28426 dated 26 January 2006;
Regulations for the Conduct, Administration and Management of Assessment for the Senior Certificate has been added to the Act as published in Notice No. 1044 in Government Gazette No. 28156 dated 21 October 2005;
The National Senior Certificate : A Qualification at Level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) has been added to the Act as published in Notice No. 744 in Government Gazette No. 27819 dated 20 July 2005;
Regulations relating to Safety measures at Independent Schools have been added to the Act as printed in Notice No. 975 in Government Gazette No. 26663 dated 20 August 2004;
The South African Schools Act 1996 has been amended by the Education Laws Amendment Act, No. 1 of 2004 published in Government Gazette No. 26292 dated 26 April 2004;
Regulations for Safety Measures at Public Schools has been added to the Act by Notice No. 1040 in Government Gazette No. 22754 dated 12 October 2001; as well as an Amendment to these Regulations as printed in Government Gazette No. 29376 dated 10 November 2006;
The South African Schools Act, 1996, (Act No. 84 of 1996) as published in Government Gazette No. 1867 dated 15 November 1996, has been added to the site, and the following amendments have been applied :
The Education Laws Amendment Act No. 100 of 1997, as published in Government Gazette No. 18480 dated 28 November 1997;
The Education Laws Amendment Act No. 48 of 1999, as published in Government Gazette No. 20650 dated 19 November 1999;
The Education Laws Amendment Act No. 53 of 2000, as published in Government Gazette No. 21783 dated 22 November 2000;
The Education Laws Amendment Act No. 57 of 2001, as published in Government Gazette No. 22895 dated 5 December 2001;
The Education Laws Amendment Act No. 50 of 2002, as published in Government Gazette No. 24113 dated 28 November 2002;
