FINANCE Minister Pravin Gordhan yesterday gave the drive to increase learner access to Grade R another shot in the arm.
Gordhan announced that additional allocations of R18.8-billion were accommodated in the overall education budget "to improve access to Grade R".
The government believes that this will improve the levels of literacy and numeracy among pre-school children.
About 68% of children aged four and below do not go to early childhood development centres, according to the South African Institute for Race Relations.
Centres include crèches, playgroups, nursery schools, and pre-primary schools.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has said that Grade R enrolments doubled between 2003 and 2011.
In 2010 only 707203 pupils were placed in Grade R. The state is working towards universal access to Grade R by 2014.
Gordhan allocated R18.8-billion over the medium-term for pupil subsidies at no-fee schools and expanded access to Grade R.
Ukukhanya Kwezwe in Malboro, northern Johannesburg, is one of those centres.
The school accommodates children aged between 18 months and six years old. It offers Grade R and has about 80 children.
The centre's principal, Conny Mahlangu, said that if government wanted children to have a good foundation, it must pump in more money into them.
"It is important that children attend preschool and also do Grade R but the money that is allocated to the us is too little. "
Last year, preschools were allocated R12 a day for each child.
Ukukhanya Kwezwe was allocated R392832 to cover water and electricity; telephone bills; salaries for staff and meals. The provision for meals is R5 for three meals.
"The money is not enough, I hope that this year it will go up to at least R20," Mahlangu said.
"We have to cover most of the costs ourselves. We are lucky that the Grade R teacher is paid by the Department of Education."
The 10-year-old centre operated from an old warehouse in the Malboro industrial area and this resulted in them paying huge sums for water and electricity.
"We have tried to go to Eskom and ask for mercy but have been turned down. I have to beg the landlord not to take the rent."
Mahlangu said she has to pay R5700 in rent and R6000 for electricity and money is hardly enough.
Another R3928.32 is allocated for water, electricity and services; telephone and fax and stationery for the year.
Money allocated for food is R102136.32 a year calculated at R5 for three meals a day for each child.
"I have just over R8000 for food every month. This is very hard especially if I want to include a balanced and healthy diet."
Most of their annual allocation of R255340.80 is spent on salaries.
Learner access to Grade R gets R18bn boost
FINANCE Minister Pravin Gordhan yesterday gave the drive to increase learner access to Grade R another shot in the arm.
Gordhan announced that additional allocations of R18.8-billion were accommodated in the overall education budget "to improve access to Grade R".
The government believes that this will improve the levels of literacy and numeracy among pre-school children.
About 68% of children aged four and below do not go to early childhood development centres, according to the South African Institute for Race Relations.
Centres include crèches, playgroups, nursery schools, and pre-primary schools.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has said that Grade R enrolments doubled between 2003 and 2011.
In 2010 only 707203 pupils were placed in Grade R. The state is working towards universal access to Grade R by 2014.
Gordhan allocated R18.8-billion over the medium-term for pupil subsidies at no-fee schools and expanded access to Grade R.
Ukukhanya Kwezwe in Malboro, northern Johannesburg, is one of those centres.
The school accommodates children aged between 18 months and six years old. It offers Grade R and has about 80 children.
The centre's principal, Conny Mahlangu, said that if government wanted children to have a good foundation, it must pump in more money into them.
"It is important that children attend preschool and also do Grade R but the money that is allocated to the us is too little. "
Last year, preschools were allocated R12 a day for each child.
Ukukhanya Kwezwe was allocated R392832 to cover water and electricity; telephone bills; salaries for staff and meals. The provision for meals is R5 for three meals.
"The money is not enough, I hope that this year it will go up to at least R20," Mahlangu said.
"We have to cover most of the costs ourselves. We are lucky that the Grade R teacher is paid by the Department of Education."
The 10-year-old centre operated from an old warehouse in the Malboro industrial area and this resulted in them paying huge sums for water and electricity.
"We have tried to go to Eskom and ask for mercy but have been turned down. I have to beg the landlord not to take the rent."
Mahlangu said she has to pay R5700 in rent and R6000 for electricity and money is hardly enough.
Another R3928.32 is allocated for water, electricity and services; telephone and fax and stationery for the year.
Money allocated for food is R102136.32 a year calculated at R5 for three meals a day for each child.
"I have just over R8000 for food every month. This is very hard especially if I want to include a balanced and healthy diet."
Most of their annual allocation of R255340.80 is spent on salaries.
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