The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has announced its education budget for the 2023/24 financial year. This budget and the budget allocations were announced by the Minister of Education in the Western Cape, David Maynier, on Tuesday. Here is how the R29.55 billion budget will be allocated.
The WCED's education budget consists of an increase of R1.38 billion from the previous year, making it the largest budget of any department in the provincial government.
This is a clear indication of the value that we place on education, and of our commitment to delivering quality education for every learner, in every classroom, in every school in the Western Cape.
Reverse Learning Losses
One of the main aims of the Department is to reverse learning losses, after learner's results took a dive following the Covid-19 pandemic. R399 million will be spent on this endeavour, which plans to rapidly expand access to education and support for learners with special needs.
The results of the 2022 Western Cape systemic tests were recently released, and while these results indicated improvements, the results were still a cause for concern.
In response, the WCED will be launching a #BackOnTrack Programme targeted specifically to the learners, teachers and parents in schools where the test results revealed that interventions are needed the most.
The #BackOnTrack Programme has been designed with the aim of building on existing interventions that are already providing encouraging results. This programme will also cover all phases and stakeholders.
Additionally, academic support will be provided to 18,000 Grade 4,7,8,10 and 12 learners in the coming year as well as various other interventions including professional development and support for teachers, and training and support to parents of learners.
The Rapid School Build Programme
A further R2.9 billion has been allocated to the rapid expansion of access to education in the province. Through the Rapid School Build programme, no less than 21 new or replacement schools will be built before the start of the 2024 school year, to help solve the problem of overcrowded classrooms and understaffed schools.
An additional 289 classrooms will be added to existing schools and 28 schools will be upgraded. The Department has allocated such a large budget to this programme due to a number of challenges, including:
- finding suitable land
- loadshedding
- limited materials
- potential community disruptions
Supporting Learners With Special Needs
R135 million will be used to improve the support of special needs learners. 2 new schools will be built specifically for learners with special needs and 28 additional classrooms will be added to existing schools to better cater to these learners.
A specific focus has been placed on supporting learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with R68 million of the R135 million being used for the support of students with ASD. Extra teachers, classroom assistants and therapists will be employed for these additional schools and classrooms to address potential challenges in the identification and support of learners with ASD.
A further R67 million will be used to support learners with Profound Intellectual Disability (LPID) and provide the necessary resources.
The remaining funds will be allocated accordingly:
- Improving the implementation of career and work-readiness training: R5 million
- Presidential Youth Employment Initiative: R531 million
- School safety: R76.1 million
- School energy resilience: R40 million
- Education partnerships: R5 million
Through this budget and allocation of funds, the WCED aims to reverse learning losses, expand access to education, improve the support of learners with special needs, create pathways to work and improve work-readiness, improve the safety of schools and make schools more energy resilient.
The Department acknowledges that these plans are ambitious, but that it is worth the risk in at attempt to deliver better education to the learners of the Western Cape.
