Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
Education
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Provision
- 29
- Source language
- English
- Recorded status
- in force
More details
- Recorded status
- in force
Provision text
Official source(1) Everyone has the right—
(a) to a basic education, including adult basic education; and
(b) to further education, which the state, through reasonable measures, must
make progressively available and accessible.
(2) Everyone has the right to receive education in the official language or languages of
their choice in public educational institutions where that education is reasonably
practicable. In order to ensure the effective access to, and implementation of, this
right, the state must consider all reasonable educational alternatives, including
single medium institutions, taking into account—
(a) equity;
(b) practicability; and
(c) the need to redress the results of past racially discriminatory laws and
practices.
(3) Everyone has the right to establish and maintain, at their own expense,
independent educational institutions that—
(a) do not discriminate on the basis of race;
(b) are registered with the state; and
(c) maintain standards that are not inferior to standards at comparable public
educational institutions.
(4) Subsection (3) does not preclude state subsidies for independent educational
institutions.
Source record
Source and verification
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 · justice.gov.za · Retrieved 17 August 2026.
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