IT LOOKS like the problems of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education are far from over as the government that was quickly put in place to rescue the department, will not help in the problem of not buying textbooks as well as paying schools their fees in November.
This department will be bailed out with R2 billion by the provincial Treasury to help reduce the financial pressure on education.
The statement issued by the department after the announcement that the Treasury will release this money, said it will help reduce the financial burden faced by schools in the province. We said this money was included after you made proposals to different departments about the financial challenges you have.
“From the financial year 2020/2021, the department’s budget has been reduced by R28 billion, which makes us unable to meet the needs. We must point out that this money is not new money but money that is similar to what we have been loaned so that we can meet the increase in costs related to the payment of employees, improving infrastructure, transportation of students and others,” we said.
We have said that this amount does not include the issue of resources such as textbooks as well as school fees known as Norms and Standards, which must be paid in November.
“There will continue to be payments to contractors as well as challenges in the purchase of books which will increase the debt because there is no other money we will get from the Treasury. We call on the Treasury to find a solution to the problem of inflow of money in the department. The matter of reviewing the budget of the department should not be reviewed because it has a big impact.”
We said that they are committed to not disrupting learning and teaching in the province due to these challenges.
“We will continue to discuss with different agencies so that stability in education in the province continues.”
The Minister of the Treasury, Mr. Francois Rodgers, said that they will save the department with money to pay for schools as well as to be able to meet important needs. He said that this money is being released so that schools are not disrupted even though the financial situation of the province is not good.
The Minister of Basic Education, Ms. Siviwe Gwarube, recently told members of Parliament that the three departments of education are facing a shortage of money. The provincial department is no longer among the departments that have the most pressure on the budget.
He also pointed out that they even came to the province to try to solve this problem as the department fails to buy books and does not pay the contractors on time. The main problem facing these departments is that a large part of the budget pays for the salaries of the employees, and there is little left to do other things.