Education funds partnership programmes for learners’ well-being

The Department of Education has set aside funds in the current financial year for programmes in conjunction with other departments to address among others social ills and safety issues in schools.

MEC for the Department of Education Panyaza Lesufi revealed this during the tabling of the 2019/20 budget speech at the Provincial Legislature on 31 July.

Lesufi revealed the total budget of R49.2 billion for the current financial year, an increase of R4.5 billion from the previous financial year. He added that the budget had grown by 57 per cent from the 2014/15 financial year to date, with an increase of R18.1 billion over the period of six years. Compensation of employees takes up 75 per cent of the total budget.

“The budget is anticipated to grow at an average annual rate of 8.4 per cent over the medium-term. This shows the commitment of the ANC government to education as a national priority,” he said.

The department has allocated R146 million for promoting school safety and the deployment of patrollers in schools. Lesufi said the department would work in conjunction with the Department of Community Safety to conduct search-and-seizure at high-risk schools and will focus on continuous and intelligence-driven school raids for drugs and weapons.

“The department will diligently work hand in hand with the police and other law-enforcement personnel to create the safest schools possible,” said Lesufi.

While the department has allocated R1.2 billion from the Provincial Equitable Share for the National School Nutrition Programme, it will also work together with the Department of Social Development to enhance in-school psycho-social support services to create safe learning environment and for learners to attain age-appropriate support for substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and girl/ boy child support programmes.

Furthermore, the department has set aside R116.7 million for the promotion of school health and the rendering of psycho-social services to learners. A total R37.9 million of the amount will be used for the establishment of an HIV/Aids grant to deal with the pandemic within the provincial schooling sector.

Working alongside the Department of Health, the Department of Education would establish an on-site health and psycho-social facilities at schools to provide health, education and social services to all children including learners with mental health or substance-abuse issues. “These in-school clinics are aimed at reducing the leading causes of fatalities, disease and disability in our schools,” said Lesufi.

The clinics will also deal with issues including bullying, alcohol and substance use, dietary and hygienic practices that cause disease, sedentary lifestyles and sexual behaviour that causes unintended pregnancy and disease.

The overall budget was allocated as follows:

• Public special school education is allocated R3.4 billion or 6.8 per cent
• Infrastructure development is allocated R1.94 billion or 3.8 per cent
• Examination and education-related services are allocated R1.51 billion or 3 per cent
• Independent school subsidies get R854 million or 1.7 per cent
• Early childhood development receives R856 million or 1.71 per cent.