Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has declared that South Africa's education system is in crisis, citing years of budget cuts, economic stagnation, and fiscal mismanagement. Gwarube, who was deployed by the DA, highlighted the dire financial situation facing the sector during a media briefing, stating that provinces are struggling to fund essential services like textbooks, administration support, and scholar transport programs.
Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube. Photographer Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent NewspapersThe government of National Unity has again been thrust into the spotlight after the Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, bemoaned SA’s education system, saying it was in crisis.
Other provinces face similar challenges, struggling to fund essential services like textbooks, admin support, and scholar transport programs. She said SA’s stagnant economy has contributed to the crisis and that the government’s spending priorities needed realignment, as R331 billion was spent on bailing out under performing state-owned enterprises between 2013 and 2023 which could have been directed to critical sectors like education.
She said to address the crisis, the government needed to allocate a larger share of the national budget to education, upskill teachers to educate in a rapidly changing world, embrace digital tools and internet access and invest in safe and suitable infrastructure. “These pressures have been years in the making because of aggressive budget cuts, economic stagnation and fiscal mismanagement across government which is now set to impact schools…The very fabric of our children’s future is under threat,” she said.“We have committed ourselves to doing everything we can to stabilise the system and have appealed to provinces to retain the basket of posts, in order to not compromise education outcomes.
Education Crisis South Africa Budget Cuts Minister Siviwe Gwarube
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube Opposes the BELA BillThe Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, has voiced her opposition to the signing of the Basic Education Amendment Laws Bill into law. SA was worried.
Read more »
Basic education minister Gwarube skips Bela Bill signing in protestThe Democratic Alliance and other GNU partners are urging President Ramaphosa to send the Bela Bill back to parliament
Read more »
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube Discusses Long-Term Effects of Budget CutsThe basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube said provincial departments will struggle in the next few years because of the budget cuts the department experienced.
Read more »
Gwarube raises alarm over impact of extortion at Eastern Cape schools - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says criminals must know schools are places of safety.
Read more »
Siviwe Gwarube to approach Treasury for Department of Basic Education budget cutsThe Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube said she will meet Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to discuss the Department of Education's budget cuts.
Read more »
'There's a responsibility that comes with being Education Minister' - Chiloane on Gwarube and BELA BillDuring a Sunday media briefing on his department's school placement readiness, Education MEC Matome Chiloane said as a province, they were happy with the signing of the BELA Bill into law and were already 'moving quickly' to implement it.
Read more »