Educational mandate: Arising from the Broadcasting Act, the SABC has identified the following educational programme areas:

  1. Early Childhood Development
  2. Children at Home
  3. Formal Education
  4. Youth Development
  5. Adult and Human Resources Development
  6. Public Education.
  7. Digital Education


Programmes for early childhood development are aimed at supporting the holistic development of young children (from 0 - 7). The SABC recognises that as relatively few South African children have access to any structured early childhood education, these programmes assist in preparing young children "to be ready to learn". Educational programming also supports the implementation of the national Grade R (Reception Year) curriculum. Moreover, this programming will equip caregivers with the knowledge and skills to facilitate and support the growth and development of young children.

Early childhood development programmes should meet the following standards:

  1. Be entertaining and actively engage the audience
  2. Develop children's self-esteem
  3. Enhance listeners' and viewers' imagination
  4. Reflect the personal experiences and cultures of the audience
  5. Affirm children's sense of self and place
  6. Take account of language needs and the needs of learners with disabilities
  7. Be focused primarily on health, nutrition and safety.


  1. Educational programming for children at home is aimed at children of school going age who are not at school, and seeks to create the space for children to engage and express their thoughts and opinions on issues that affect them.
  2. Educational programming for children at home is required to meet the following standards:
  3. Be entertaining, enabling children to learn, have fun and interact with others
  4. Take account of language needs and the needs of learners with disabilities
      Promote healthy living, social awareness, self-esteem and an understanding of human rightsBe focused primarily on science, technology, mathematics, economics and communication.


Forrnal educational programmes affirm and support the development of Foundation Phase learners (ages 5-9) and Intermediate Phase learners (ages 9-13). Formal education programming is required to meet the following standards:

  1. It should support the implementation of the national school curriculum by providing resources of excellent quality developed specifically to assist both teachers and learners to achieve nationally set outcomes. It should enhance learning in all the learning areas of the curriculum: literacy, numeracy and life skills (Foundation Phase), languages, mathematics, social sciences, arts and culture, life orientation, natural sciences and technology (Intermediate Phase)
  2. Educational programming should also take account of learners' language needs, including the language needs of deaf learners.


Youth development educational programmes are aimed at promoting a culture of life-long learning among young people, both at and after school. Youth educational programming is required to meet the following standards:

  1. It should aim to develop self-esteem among listeners and viewers and provide a platform for Expression
  2. It should contextualise young people's realities, fears, concerns and needs
  3. It should showcase youth solving problems, thinking critically, acting independently, developing creatively — intellectually, socially, cognitively and emotionally — and addressing, overcoming and transforming their future
  4. It should create an awareness of the rights and responsibilities of all citizens, including the youth, as contained in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution.


Adult and human resources development programmes affirm the concept of life-long learning, and support development of the skills and knowledge needed for survival in a competitive and ever-evolving world. Programmes are aimed at meeting the formal and informal skills development needs of both the employed and the unemployed, and support South Africans in their occupational endeavours. Programmes include adult literacy, skills development, educator development and entrepreneurial skills development.


Public educational programmes are aimed at offering the information, knowledge and skills South Africans need for effective participation and interaction in society. They promote the drive for life-long learning, and foster tolerance and understanding of one another and all our cultures. Such programmes enable people to take informed decisions, encourage critical thinking, and impart problem solving skills.


Digitization is radically transforming the way people around the world interact with media content. Television remains the top media platform, but the way people download video content is changing with increasing numbers using their computers, laptops and mobiles to watch videos. Whilst live viewing remains by far the most common way of watching TV, it is being supplanted by the use of digital video recorders. Over the internet, music, games and podcasting is gaining momentum to streamline audio files and video materials. Social media is shaping up to be a powerful way to influence consumers online, and this may become the best way to promote products and services over the traditional online advertising.

TV Division is responsible for the development of TV-related content and applications for the vast variety of digital media platforms being launched. SABC Education main strategic thrust is the identification, acquisition, repurposing and management of TV, Radio and other special campaigns content for fledgling on-line and mobile, and the roll-out of data products for the DTT project. SABC Education digital media section commissioned and manages web-based programme sites, mobisites, capacity building toolkits and resources as well as supports online marketing campaigns.


Social Media