Section27 concerned looming budget cuts will erode education sector gains

CAPE TOWN - Civil society organisation Section27 says it's concerned that the looming budget cuts will erode gains made in the country's education sector.

Earlier this week, Basic Education Minister Suiviwe Gwarube painted a bleak picture of the sector's financial struggles, while giving an update on the impact of budget cuts on provincial Education Departments.

Gwarube highlighted that seven provincial Education Departments will not be able to afford their budgets by 2027/28.

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Already - the Western Cape has announced its decision to cut more than 2,400 teacher posts from January next year, due to a R3.8 billion budget shortfall over the next three years.

Other provinces are also facing budget shortfalls and may have to slash funding towards other crucial programmes including school transportation to maintain teacher posts.

Section 27's budget researcher, Tshidi Lencoasa, said the onus was on the government to devise a plan to minimise the impact financial woes will have on poorer communities.

"Even in the context where half decisions have to be made, or in the words of the minister, brutal cuts have to be made. We are urging government to undertake participatory human rights impact assessments to ensure that the most marginalised learners in the country are the ones who are shielded from these brutal budget cuts because currently, they are the ones who bear the burden of under resourcing and under allocation towards basic education."