Funding crisis is challenging but not insurmountable - Basic Education Dept

JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Basic Education said that although the funding crisis was challenging, it was not insurmountable.

Recently, provincial education departments across the country have announced plans to cut down on contracted staff and freeze new appointments due to budget cuts.

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In a media briefing on Wednesday, the Department of Education said it was working on finding solutions.

At the heart of the funding crisis is the compensation-to-employees budget.

For many provinces, this budget has either marginally increased or remained stagnant, making it difficult for them to hire more teachers.

The Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube said that over the next few weeks she would be engaging with the National Treasury, the finance minister, and other education stakeholders.

"In the long term, we must prioritise increased investment in education to receive a larger share of the national budget, ensuring we have enough teachers, quality infrastructure, and adequate resources."

Gwarube said the rate of children entering the schooling system was much higher than the number of teachers being employed.