With the creation of the department, the central national government assumed control of all black education in South Africa.
Initially, a poll tax levied solely on black South Africans was collected to pay for Bantu education.
[1] In 1972, the government started using general taxes collected from White South Africans to fund a portion of black education.
Many mission schools refused to co-operate with the National Party government and ceased operating after the passage of the act.
Though the post-apartheid government has committed itself to providing quality schooling to students of all races,[5] education in South Africa continues to be hampered by the legacy of the department and other institutions.