Supply chain challenges in public schools in the uMzinyathi district, KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract

Background: The South African Schools Act No. 84 of 1996 states that all learners should be provided with a high-quality education and in this way lays a strong foundation for the development of their talents and capabilities. The education sector faces many challenges that undermine the quality of education, particularly in public schools. Unless these challenges are identified and addressed, learners’ education will continue to be impacted negatively.

Objectives: This study investigated supply chain challenges in public schools in the uMzinyathi district and explored strategies for managing and addressing these challenges so as to benefit the public education sector as a whole.

Method: The study is exploratory, and a case study approach was used. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 20 stakeholders in the Department of Education. The stakeholders were selected by means of a nonprobability purposive sampling method. The collected data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings: The findings revealed that the main supply chain challenges centre around three themes, namely procurement, service delivery and logistics and demand. These challenges negatively impact on learners’ education.

Conclusion: The contribution of this study is twofold. Firstly, it adds to the existing body of literature by identifying the challenges experienced in the country’s public education sector, and secondly, the findings and recommendations could be useful in order to address the supply chain challenges faced by public schools for stakeholders in the South African public education sector.