Minister urges action as looming budget cuts threaten schools

Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube and her deputy Dr Reginah Mhaule have committed to taking all necessary steps to stabilise the education system, given the budgetary constraints affecting provinces.

The minister said this while addressing the media on developments regarding budget cuts in the education sector, in Pretoria, today.

“The deputy minister and I have been in constant engagement with provinces to support them during this challenging fiscal environment. 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,” the minister said.

She expressed her appreciation for the work that provinces have been doing to help the sector manage these challenges.

“I have witnessed MECs work tirelessly with their provincial departments to protect teaching and learning in our schools,” she added.

Challenges

The briefing comes weeks after several provincial departments of education raised concerns about budgetary pressures. According to the minister, these issues have been building up for years due to aggressive budget cuts, economic stagnation, and fiscal mismanagement, which are now affecting schools.

“These budget pressures are not just numbers on a spreadsheet – they translate into fewer teachers, reduced textbooks, and fewer admin support staff, meaning teachers spend more time on admin work, reducing learning and teaching time. In essence, the very fabric of our children’s future is under threat.”

She noted that provinces like the Western Cape have been forced to reduce the basket of teaching posts for 2025, potentially leading to fewer educators in classrooms.

“This may mean larger class sizes, reduced individual attention for learners, and ultimately, a risk to the achievement of quality education outcomes.”

Other provinces are also grappling with the same issues, with many trying to avoid cuts to key services like textbooks, admin support, and scholar transport programmes.

“We are facing a national crisis that affects not just learners but also teachers, principals, and broader communities. It is crucial to understand that this crisis is not confined to one province or one aspect of the education sector.”

The minister warned that provincial education departments will struggle to fund their basket of posts and programmes in the coming years unless proactive measures are taken. She mentioned that by the 2025/26 financial year, four provinces will face significant budget shortfalls, with the number rising to seven provinces by 2027/28.

“Several provinces have preserved the same post basket for the past three academic years, despite increasing learner numbers. However, these cuts have affected vacant posts rather than current employees, meaning no person gets retrenched but vacancies are not filled,” she explained.

Increase in learner numbers

The minister highlighted a national increase of approximately 292 820 learners over the last five years, which has contributed to a steady rise in learner/educator ratios across most provinces.

An increase in learners without expanding the post basket could affect the quality of teaching and eventually the overall performance of the education system.

She added that most provincial departments of education need between R350m and R3.8b over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework to fully fund their respective basket of posts.

“If we continue down this path, most provincial education departments will not be able to maintain their basket of posts,” she cautioned.

Interventions

In response to the potential crisis, Gwarube convened two special meetings of the Council of Education Ministers, where education MECs analysed budget challenges in each province. Provincial reports have been compiled, revealing sobering results.

“For the first time in a decade, we have a clearer picture of where the most significant budget pressures lie, and we are engaging Treasury to address these challenges.”

She requested an urgent meeting with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and plans to convene a 10X10 meeting between national and provincial finance ministers, as well as herself and the nine education MECs.

“We need to work with all 10 treasuries to unlock additional funds, even if it’s a short-term solution, to prevent further cuts to teaching posts and essential services like school nutrition and transport. We must also reprioritise budgets from underperforming departments to ensure government funding is directed to national priorities.”

The minister concluded that while the challenges are significant, they are not insurmountable, provided there is decisive action and a commitment to prioritising education.

Earlier this month, the Department of Basic Education announced the minister had met with international partners to reinforce South Africa’s commitment to enhancing education through global collaboration. – SAnews.gov.za