Committee concerned GDE budget not big enough to address long-standing issues
On Wednesday, the provincial education department tabled its 2024/2025 budget before the Gauteng legislature.
FILE: Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane. Picture: X/@Matomekopano
JOHANNESBURG - Despite a budget of R65.8 billion, the Gauteng Education Department won't have enough money to totally eradicate the hazardous asbestos roofs in public schools.
This is according to the education portfolio committee which oversees the department.
On Wednesday, the provincial education department tabled its 2024/2025 budget before the Gauteng legislature.
Chairperson of the education portfolio committee, Moipone Mhlongo, said that while the budget represented a 3% increase from the previous financial year, the committee was worried it did not address a number of long-standing issues.
"It is, however, difficult to assess how the delivery of schools will be done. This is due to the fact that the budget does not adequately address the eradication of asbestos infrastructure, the improving of sanitation in most schools, the provision of sport facilities in some of the schools that do not have, as well as major rehabilatative work that most schools require."