Education budget highlights
Education MEC Polly Boshielo delivered the education budget vote at the Lebowakgomo Legislative Chambers last week to highlight the key areas and plans that have been budgeted for in the 2022/23 education budget.
Boshielo says the implementation of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) is aimed at improving the health and nutritional needs of learners from ordinary public schools in quintiles one to three, and in special schools.
In the 2022/23 financial year, the programme will serve meals to learners in 3 601 public ordinary quintiles one to three primary and secondary, and 35 special schools.
An amount of R1.53b is allocated for this programme.
“The Learner Transport Programme is aimed at providing deserving learners with transport to school. These are learners who travel 5km or more to school. The number of learners coming from 476 schools have since increased from 47 276 to 56 694 learners in this financial year.
“The programme assists in reducing absenteeism and late coming among learners.”
Boshielo says to illustrate the seriousness in which government is aware of the infrastructure challenges across the country the Education Infrastructure Grant (EIG) budget allocated in this financial year is R1.316b, including an additional allocation of R200m from the provincial equitable share to renovate and refurbish
50 storm-damaged schools.
According to Boshielo, an allocation of R15.879m has been put aside for ECD infrastructure and the remaining R2m is for the maintenance of office space.
The total infrastructure development budget amounts to R1.534b.
“As per the commitment made to strengthen School Management Teams (SMT), we advertised 4
064 posts for principals, deputy principals and departmental heads. Of the 3 589 posts, 3
326 appointments were made. We therefore expect improved functionality and performance in our schools. The department has commenced with the induction workshops for all newly appointed principals, deputy principals and departmental heads on their roles and responsibilities.”
Despite these appointments the department has a high vacancy rate of support staff at circuits, districts and head office.
Boshielo says the underlying reason for the rapid attrition rate is the problem of the aging workforce in the department and that they have reached a stage where if this matter is not addressed, they will soon be incapable of supporting educational activities in schools.
The Office of the Premier and the provincial treasury are assisting the department in dealing with this matter.