Top Class is an educational series with one big foot planted firmly in the reality genre. It seeks to deal with challenges facing principals of schools and to make a difference to how schools in South Africa are managed. The series is endorsed by the National Department of Education. and will broadcast on SABC Education’s Learning Channel every Wednesday at 11h00 from 13 February on SABC1.

Ten top CEO’s were enlisted and each was paired with 10 poorly performing schools across South Africa, identified by the Department of Education. Some of the challenges facing schools were safety and security, motivation of teachers and learners, absenteeism, raising finance, teenage pregnancy and discipline.

Dr. Martin Prew, Director: Education Management and Governance Development for the Department of Education said in support of the programme, “Utilising the country’s top CEO’s in identifying critical challenges facing schools and assisting the school’s management team in resolving those challenges Top Class will entertain the general public and build the management skills of all educators viewing those episodes.”

In each episode the Top Class team and a different celebrity CEO visit one of these schools to meet with its learners and educators, grapple with the issues they are experiencing and work with the principal and the chairperson of the governing body to come up with a simple plan aimed at creating effective short-term and long-term solutions to improve the running of the school.

The 10 CEO’s are Prakash Desai – Group CEO Avusa Limited , Zeona Motshabi - Chief Corporate Officer Cell C, Suzanne Ackerman-Berman Transformation Director Pick ‘n Pay , Daniel Jordaan –Chief Executive Officer 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, Yvonne Johnston - Chief Executive International Marketing Council of SA, Tina Eboka – Director: Corporate Affairs Standard Bank, Zola Yeye – Regional General Manager: EC, Audrey Mothupi - Liberty Life, Martin Feinstein – Enablis and GG Alcock – Managing Director of Minanawe Marketing.