POLOKWANE – The Department of Education has received a total budget allocation of R42.5b for the 2025/26 financial year, MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya announced during her budget vote speech at the Limpopo Legislature on April 8.
Strengthening school safety
Among the key priorities in the budget is school safety, with R4m allocated to tackle the growing incidents of crime and violence in schools.
The MEC cited recent break-ins at Kuschke Agricultural School and Taxila Secondary School, as well as similar incidents in Vhembe and Seshego, as examples of the urgent need for intervention.
“Social ills such as bullying, drug abuse, gangsterism, rape, and suicide are on the rise,” she said.
“We will intensify interventions by renewing memorandums of understanding with relevant departments and stakeholders, she said.”
The department will also host a Limpopo Schools Safety Indaba to strengthen partnerships aimed at curbing violence and improving the safety of learners and staff.
Dignity for girls
A notable allocation of R40.287m will go towards the Sanitary Dignity Project, which aims to provide sanitary towels to 3 000 female learners across the province.
Scholar transport and independent schools
The scholar transport system will receive R365.2m, aimed at preventing geographical exclusion for learners who live far from schools.
Independent schools in the province are set to receive R175.5m in recognition of their role in expanding access to education.
Budget breakdown
The R42.529b budget represents a 6.7% increase from the adjusted appropriation of R39.8b in 2024/25.
The breakdown is as follows:
Equitable Share: R37.8b.
Conditional Grants: R3.8b.
Own Revenue: R794.7m.
Economic classification allocations:
Compensation of employees: R32.5b.
Goods and services: R4.4b.
Transfers and subsidies: R4.b.
Capital assets: R1.4b.
