HIGHVELD – The Mpumalanga Department of Finance has allocated R51.5 billion for the implementation of programmes aimed at improving the quality of education and skills in 2014/15 annual budget.
Mr Madala Masuku, MEC for the Department of Finance, said when he tabled the Provincial Budget at the Provincial Legislature on Tuesday, 11 March, the investment in education is informed by a belief that education is the backbone of future economic prosperity for every society.
The Department of Education received the largest share of the provincial budget of R36.4 billion.
The total budget allocated to education is R16.1 billion which represents an increase of 6.6 per cent from the 2013/14 adjusted budget.
The department will, among others, implement programmes to improve performance in mathematics and physical science, support the systems to improve underperforming schools and expand access to Early Childhood Development (ECD).
“The allocation to education includes an additional amount of R256.3 million for school infrastructure and R40 million for the modification of the structure and operationalisation of the Mathematics, Science and technology Academy,” said Mr Masuku.
He added that the department will also use the budget to implement programmes aimed at improving performance in mathematics and physical science, to support the systems and ensure qualitative improvement of results at underperforming schools.
The province has seen major improvement in its Grade 12 results in recent years and the emergence of successive unqualified audit reports continues to justify the investment in education.
The allocation for other departments is as follows:
* Office of the Premier – R205.3 million.
* Provincial Legislature – R273.4 million.
* Department of Finance – R268.1 million.
* Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs – R418.7 million.
* Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration – R1.07 billion.
* Economic Development, Environment and Tourism – R861.7 million.
* Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport – R4.1 billion.
* Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison – R1.027 billion.
* Department of Health – R8.9 billion.
* Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation – R442.2 million.
* Department of Social Development – R1.2 billion.
* Department of Human Settlements – R1.3 billion.
“We expect departments to be efficient and to spend funds in the right areas to impact positively on society.
“Accordingly, the departments’ annual performance plans must respond to the socio-economic challenges of Mpumalanga,” said Mr Masuku.
