The Catholic Board of Education is the governance structure of the CIE and other Catholic education organisations in South Africa. The CIE implements the policy and vision of the Catholic Board of Education at a national level for all Catholic schools and skills centres in South Africa.

Provincial Catholic Boards of Education (CBEs) meet regularly to discuss issues and concerns pertinent to their particular provinces. The CIE has regional offices in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo/Mpumalanga, Mthatha, Northern Cape, North West and the area around Kokstad.

Catholic schools offices operate in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. These offices support the local CBEs and act as their secretariats.

Principals’ forums exist in most provinces. These forums are actively supported by CIE staff. They provide support for principals on a variety of issues such as ethos, leadership and curriculum.

The CIE shares its vision for education with all relevant stakeholders, and develops partnerships with other organisations so as to improve education and training for all in South Africa. The CIE serves independent Catholic schools by playing an active role in the National Alliance of Independent Schools Associations.

The CIE lobbies and advocates with national and provincial government structures for the interests of Catholic schools, skills centres and Catholic education. Policy engagement takes place at national, provincial and local level. The nature of the work is such that it is ongoing, with results not always immediately realisable, as policy is always a work in progress, often with changing decision-makers.