According to Professor Lant Pritchett, an expert in education reform, South Africa stands out as the most significant underperformer in learning relative to GDP per capita among low and middle-income nations. South Africa lags behind countries like Kenya and Tanzania, despite their GDP per capita being less than one-fifth of South Africa's. The discrepancy is striking, considering that South Africa's spending commitments mirror those of high-performing Scandinavian countries, yet its learning outcomes fall below even neighbouring Eswatini. Turning our attention to a segment often overlooked in South Africa's education landscape, mission schools play a unique role. Historically introduced by missionaries for various reasons, including converting people to Christianity and influencing moral standards, mission schools were integrated into the state system through subsidies and government oversight. Today, mission schools operate as more accessible private institutions compared to traditional expensive schools. Despite this accessibility, many South Africans have yet to fully explore the potential benefits of these schools. In this conversation, we aim to understand how mission schools differ from private and public schools in shaping the country's education system.       Professor at the School of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a NRF-rated Researcher Professor Labby Ramrathan joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.