Education is facing a pending national crisis — Minister Siviwe Gwarube

Shortfall of billions for teacher posts, school nutrition

The minister of basic education, Siviwe Gwarube, hosting a media briefing to provide an update on the provincial level analysis of the impact of budget cuts in the education sector. September 25, 2024.
The minister of basic education, Siviwe Gwarube, hosting a media briefing to provide an update on the provincial level analysis of the impact of budget cuts in the education sector. September 25, 2024.
Image: GCIS

Provincial education departments in all nine provinces will struggle to fund their existing teacher posts and other school programmes in the next three to four years within their budgets due to financial constraints.

A projected R118bn will be needed by 2027 to mitigate the risk of fewer teachers, reduced school nutrition programmes and limited scholar transport which the national department of education has described as a pending national crisis. 

According to the department, four provincial departments in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the Northern Cape and North West will go into the red in 2025 and 2026, needing substantial budget allocations of just over R7.5bn to fund their programmes, including paying teacher salaries.

By 2026, the number of provinces will increase to five with the inclusion of KwaZulu-Natal and they will collectively need an extra R13.5bn. The Free State and the Western Cape will start feeling the pinch in 2027 when they will need a projected R17.5bn collectively.  

"Several provinces have preserved the same post basket for the past three academic years, despite learner numbers increasing, while other provinces have decreased their posts in the past three years. It is important to note that these have been cuts in posts but not warm bodies," said education minister Siviwe Gwarube during a the media briefing on budget cuts held in Pretoria yesterday. 

Gwarube said most departments will require between R350m and R3.8bn over the medium-term expenditure framework to fully fund their respective basket of posts. 

"The numbers are staggering. If we continue down this path, projections indicate that most provincial education departments will not be able to maintain their respective basket of posts," she said.

Gauteng, Limpopo, the Free State and Mpumalanga departments of education have been receiving budgets that have shown steady increase in the past five years. Gwarube said the number of pupils in schools has increased by 292,820 in the last five years. 

An increase in learners' numbers without increasing the post basket may affect the quality of teaching, which may soon be reflected in the performance of the system
Siviwe Gwarube, basic education minister 

“An increase in learners' numbers without increasing the post basket may affect the quality of teaching, which may soon be reflected in the performance of the system,” she said.

Gwarube said in the Western Cape, there was already a “painful decision” to reduce the basket of teaching posts for 2025.  This, she said, was a move that would result in fewer educators in classrooms.

“This may mean larger class sizes, reduced individual attention for learners and, ultimately, a risk to the achievement of quality education outcomes.

“Unfortunately, other provinces throughout the country are in a similar position, with many desperately working to find ways of avoiding having to top slice budgets for key services like textbooks, admin support and scholar transport programmes.

“We are faced with a pending national crisis, one that affects not just our learners but our teachers, principals, and broader communities. It is crucial to understand that this crisis is not confined to one province or one aspect of the education sector. Every province is grappling with these painful choices,” she said.

Gwarube said in response to the crisis, she had two special meetings of the council of education ministers from across the country.

“... we conducted a thorough analysis of the budget challenges in each province. MECs from every province have compiled provisional provincial reports with sobering results,” she said.

Gwarube has also requested a meeting with finance minister Enoch Godongwana to discuss the matter further. She will also meet with all finance MECs. 


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