This report, one of nine provincial reports from South Africa, focuses on the 1996's School Register of Needs Survey, one of the foundations of the new government's commitment to equity in education provision and improving the quality of learning and teaching. The School Register of Needs Survey's objectives were to locate and map every educational institution in the country; survey the physical facilities, conditions of buildings, and services provided; and establish a database of all school information collected. The North West Province 2413 schools were surveyed; of these, 67.18% were primary-school-level institutions, 26.14%, secondary-level schools, 5.01%, combined schools, 0.04%, technical colleges, and 1.62% were special schools. Chapters include: (1) "School Register of Needs Survey"; (2) "Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS); (3) "Longitudinal Survey of Scholastic Achievement"; (4) "Overage Learners"; (5) "Matriculation Results (1996)"; (6) "Register of Graduates"; and (7) "Summary." An appendix presents school register of needs survey data per magisterial district for the North West Province. Twelve maps are also appended. Contains 29 figures and 9 tables.