The KwaZulu Natal department of Education has tabled its budget vote amid all the challenges its faced. Following devastating weather conditions and vandalism, some schools in the province will need rebuilding and repairs.
The department is allocated a budget of R62.9 billion for the 2024/25 financial year. Of this allocation, R2.6 billion will go towards school infrastructure development.
The MEC for education in the province, Sipho Hlomuka, says the department is in the process of building 22 new schools, while repairs for some learning facilities damaged by storms, are completed and others still in the process of completion.
“Mobile classrooms have been provided where necessary to ensure that teaching and learning continues uninterrupted, however, ultimately, learners will have access to high quality classrooms equipped with the modern technological gadgets,” Hlomuka said.
Moving his attention to examinations, Hlomuka says the province is focused on ensuring the matric class of 2024 exceeds the pass rate obtained last year.
Examination and education related services are allocated a R1.8 billion budget. Among strategies to improve results, the Department implemented interventions such as accountability sessions and Winter as well as Spring tuition, which resulted in the 86.4% pass rate.
In Gauteng, the department is allocated a budget of R65.8 billion for the 2024/25 financial year, a 3.8% increase from the previous year. MEC Matome Chiloane says R1.6 billion is allocated for the construction of 17 new schools across the province. This is to alleviate issues of overcrowding in schools as the number of learners grows significantly.
“We are committed to fostering an environment where every individual has the opportunity to participate, excel and contribute to a collective journey towards a more inclusive, innovative and harmonious society,” Chiloane says.
Libraries and archival services get an allocation of R335 million while R340 million goes to sports and recreation.
“Our libraries and archives are vital resources for education research and community engagement” says Chiolane.
“We aim to expand library infrastructure by building and upgrading libraries, R31 million has been allocated to enhance digital library services to improve access to online resources such as E-books and digital archives”, adds Chiloane.
Chiloane also announced that the department has increased funding for school sports programmes, with R1.9 million allocated for swimming lessons and water safety initiatives.
The MEC highlighted the budget will also be channeled towards providing nutritious meals to learners, ensuring the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) continues providing meals to over 1.7 million learners in 1659 schools across the province.
Chiloane says the department will continue to equip learners from grades 1-12 with practical skills such as coding, robotics and drone technology.
“This budget reflects the department’s unwavering commitment to fostering a vibrant, inclusive and dynamic Gauteng.
The Limpopo department of education has a budget of R40 billion for the 2024/25 financial year, a 2.5% increase from the previous year. MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya says of that budget, R1.4 billion is allocated for infrastructure development.
“The infrastructure budget will be utilized towards new and replacement of aging infrastructure, upgrading of existing infrastructure and refurbishment which includes storm damaged schools,” says Lerule-Ramakhanya.
In her budget vote speech, MEC Lerule-Ramakhanya emphasized the importance of ensuring underperforming schools across the province are prioritized, to help increase the pass rate.
The MEC says to assist learners in improving their marks; particularly with language, the department has introduced reading corners in all schools, in a bid to ensure learners can read for meaning.