The number of children benefiting from early childhood development (ECD) is increasing and the Grade R enrolment rates have doubled from 2003 to 2010. Furthermore, Grade 12 percentage passes increased in 2011 although the number of learners passing at bachelors level had decreased. Access to affordable education has increased with 70% of learners now in no-fee schools. Critical factors for consideration in the delivery of quality education include strengthening the quality and coverage of early childhood development, improving literacy and numeracy levels in lower grades, supporting teachers to teach English as a second language at early levels, and addressing quality and performance in mathematics and physics earlier in the system. Improving the quality of service provided by FET colleges was critical in alleviating the problem of youth unemployment.