R10.4bn for Gauteng education
22 June 2005
Gauteng education MEC Angie Motshekga announced a R10.4-billion budget on Tuesday to educate the province's 1.7-million children.
The budget, the largest by a single government department, will set aside R8.3-billion to revitalise public education and improve conditions of service for teachers. "Public schools remain the largest single expenditure programme in education," Motshekga said.
Gauteng has 1.5-million pupils in 1 874 public schools, and 89 824 in independent institutions receiving state subsidies of R160-million. Sixty thousand learners are in independent unsubsidised schools. There are 109 special schools, nine further education and training colleges and 247 adult education centres and satellites.
Teacher support
"I commit myself to support teachers who have committed themselves to ensure quality learning in a safe and secure environment and to provide the care necessary for all developing
children," said Motshekga.
"But there are still some teachers with low morale who do not fulfil their obligations."
Having completed a survey of the support needs of teachers, the department has developed an extensive employee assistance programme, which includes a telephone counselling service. In its first phase, the service will be extended to 17 000 teachers.
Gauteng education will also offer massive rewards and incentives, using funds set aside by the national department to improve teachers' working conditions.
The MEC also affirmed her department's commitment to poverty eradication and support for the poor.
"We will ensure that free meals are provided to qualifying learners, provision of free and safe scholar transport to learners residing more than 5km away from the nearest school and identification of learners who qualify for free school uniforms as well as exempting of school fees for children from the poorest communities," she said.
Some
R83-million has been set aside for the School Nutrition Programme, which will feed children from destitute families. The department will also encourage teachers to educate children on healthy lifestyles.
In keeping with national and provincial government policy, by September 2005 the department will have introduced a language policy giving all 11 official languages equal status.
Higher, adult and preschool education
Higher education, adult education and early childhood development have also been included in the budget.
About R40-million will be used to replace outdated equipment at the province's further education and training colleges, using part of a grant from the national department.
"An extra R339-million will be used to fund the day-to-day running of the colleges," Motshekga said.
The department has also set aside R128-million for adult basic education, to be used for skills development centres in various areas of
Gauteng.
The budget for early childhood development is part of a special allocation from the province. Some R49-million is for subsidies, and includes R5-million for pre-Grade R programme development. This is a bid to invest in young children from poor communities with low levels of family literacy.
Source: BuaNews
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