The aim of this study was to establish the effect of the invitational attitude of teachers on the culture of teaching and learning. This entailed a detailed literature study on the invitational attitude of teachers and its effect on the culture of teaching and learning at schools. South African education is presently facing major challenges. It is widely recognised that it is essential to transform the apartheid-based system of the past into an egalitarian one. There were imbalances and inequalities amongst separate education departments. The blacks were the most disadvantaged. For the purpose of the empirical investigation a prepared questionnaire was administered to 300 grade 12 learners of six secondary schools. The data obtained from the completed questionnaire were processed and analysed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. From the empirical investigation it was concluded that the quality of an education system is more dependent on the attitude of the teachers than any other single factor. The absence of a culture of teaching and learning in schools can be reversed by the inviting attitude of the teachers.