IN CONVERSATION WITH HENDRICK MAKANETA

In conversation with Hendrick Makaneta an educational activist , as South Africans prepare for the 2027 academic year, both school learners and prospective tertiary students are facing an increasingly competitive education landscape. Gauteng has seen hundreds of thousands of Grade 1 and Grade 8 applications, while NSFAS has opened its 2027 funding window, with applications closing on 31 October 2026. With school placements, university and TVET admissions, and financial aid all requiring separate applications and deadlines, families and students are being urged to plan early, submit accurate information and consider their options well before the new academic year begins.