Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube warned that underfunding the education sector will have a devastating long-term impact on South Africa. The minister made this declaration during the National Assembly State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate.
Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the achievements made by the government in the education sector.
The President said that millions of learners in South Africa attend no-fee schools subsidised by the government. At these schools, learners also receive a nutritious meal from the National School Nutrition Programme.
Ramaphosa also celebrated the fact that when poor learners matriculate from these schools, they can attend a public university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college without having to worry about paying high tuition. This is because the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides comprehensive bursaries and student loans to deserving students.
However, despite these achievements, Minister Gwarube expressed concern about the underfunding of schools which has left many with substandard infrastructure and in some cases, without a sufficient number of teachers.
Kwiilali nakwindawo ezisemaphandleni, kusekho izikolo ezingekho semgangathweni, ezibangela ubungozi kubafundi.
Minster Gwarube was appointed just over seven months ago as part of the Government of National Unity. During this time, the Minister says she has worked tirelessly to resolve long-standing challenges in the sector.
However, many of these challenges require significant funding and interventions from the government.
Admissions Crises
The shocking revelation that 28,000 learners were unplaced on the first day of school highlighted the need for incurred funding. While learners are being placed daily, the Minister warned that these challenges make it impossible for effective learning to take place.
And, in many of our cities, parents are struggling to find places for their children in schools. All of these realities make it impossible for quality learning and teaching to take place.
Minister Gwarube called for urgent action from the President to ensure the situation is dealt with. "It is for this reason that we need to move with urgency to turn the situation around. Our reforms must be clear, must be swift and must be funded."
Improving School Infrastructure
One of the concerning factors preventing effective learning from taking place is inappropriate school infrastructure.
Speaker, quality teaching and learning cannot take place if our learning environments lack dignity and are unsafe.
Pit latrines are dangerous and in extreme cases have become deadly for learners. The Minister called for the eradication of pit toilets by March 2025. This is after the government missed several deadlines to eradicate pit toilets in the country.
Minister Gwarube announced her intensions to review the Minimum Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure. This is aimed at improving accountability among provincial education departments that are responsible for maintaining school infrastructure.
To improve accountability at a provincial level for the rollout of school infrastructure, we will review the Regulations relating to Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure.
Implementation of The BELA Bill
The Minister echoed President Ramaphosa’s announcement that the BELA Bill will be implemented in 2025.
As indicated by the President in the SONA we are busy finalizing the regulations that will go out for public comment and input. Ultimately, these guidelines and regulations must be implemented in a manner that protects the learner, teacher and our schools.
In 2024 following months of dialogue, the GNU came to a consensus regarding the full implementation of the BELA Act.
The BELA Bill was passed in Parliament on 26 October 2023 and was signed into law by President Ramaphosa on 13 September 2024. During the public signing, the President announced a three-month delay in implementing sections 4 and 5 of the Act, which address school admission and language policies.
During the announcement of the delayed implementation of two clauses of the BELA Act, the President said if the parties could not reach an agreement before the 13 December deadline, the full implementation of the Act would proceed.
During the 2025 SONA, President Ramaphosa confirmed that Minister Gwarube will introduce national policy, norms, standards and regulations of the act which empower the implementation of the Act.
This year, the Minister of Basic Education will introduce national policy, norms and standards and regulations to empower all partners in basic education to support the implementation of the Act.
Minister Gwarube confirmed that the DBE is in consultation with the National Education and Training Council to improve quality outcomes in the sector.
