The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will appoint 477 teachers at schools that had a significant increase in the number of learners enrolled for the 2025 academic year. WCED MEC David Maynier said the province had to make provision for the appointment of teachers at new schools in the province.
While this decision will have further implications for our budget deficit, it is crucial that our new and existing schools have the resources they need to accommodate additional learners in 2025.
The WCED is set to complete the construction of 9 new schools and add 265 additional classrooms in the province. It is expected that 6 new schools and 180 classrooms will be ready for the commencement of the 2025 academic year.
To create more space for learners, we are working to complete 9 new schools and 265 additional classrooms in total for learners in the 2025 school year. This includes 6 new schools and 180 classrooms for January 2025.
Maynier says the provision of new posts and completion of infrastructure projects is required to accommodate the increasing number of learners enrolling in Western Cape schools.
However, the MEC acknowledged that these developments are taking place despite the WCED facing a severe budget deficit.
Our provincial education system continues to grow, and we are taking steps to accommodate the increase in learner numbers this year despite severe budget constraints.
Impact of Budget Cuts On WCED And Other Provincial Education Departments
Last year the WCED announced that 2400 teaching posts are set to be cut in 2025.
The explanation provided by the WCED states that the budget crisis stems from a national funding shortfall. The Western Cape has received only 64% of the funds needed to cover the costs of the nationally negotiated wage agreement, leaving the province to cover the remaining 36%. This is a R3.8 billion shortfall in the education budget over the next three years.
Brett Herron, Secretary-General of GOOD says the budget deficit facing the WCED is of their own making. They argue that the provincial government has de-prioritised education.
The reason it’s a crisis of the Western Cape’s own making is because the province receives more than enough money from the national fiscus to retain its full complement of teachers, but uses the discretion provinces have to take money away from education and plough it into other projects and programmes.
While Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube assured stakeholders that no teachers will be retrenched in 2025, concerns remain regarding the ability of Provincial Education Departments to fund their budgets.
Minister Gwarube warned that provocative steps must be taken to mitigate risks posed by budget deficits.
Every province is grappling with these painful choices. Provincial education departments will in the next 2-3 years find it increasingly difficult to fund their existing basket of posts and existing programmes within the available budget unless measures are taken proactively to mitigate this risk.
The Minister said that in the 2025/26 financial year, four provincial education departments will struggle to cover their budgets. This figure is projected to rise to five provinces in the 2026/27 financial year and a staggering seven provinces in the 2027/28 financial year.