Parliament, Wednesday, 26 February 2024 - The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education yesterday concluded its two-day oversight visit to schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal’s uGu Education District with a meeting with stakeholders to find solutions to challenges that were raised during its programme, specifically the lack of funding that could hamper learning in the province.
Committee Chairperson Ms Joy Maimela said: “The committee visited several schools over the last two days and the general concern raise everywhere relates to funding, budget. The lack of budget has an impact on so many aspects, including maintenance at schools, building of infrastructure being delayed, learner transport and even the number of times learners receive food in the National Schools Nutrition Programme.”
Yesterday, the committee visited Sibuyile Senior Secondary School and Gugulesizwe Senior Secondary School. Both schools were commended for their academic achievements for the class of 2024 matric examinations and encouraged to improve further.
During the stakeholder meeting, the KZN Department of Education said the bulk of its budget, more than 80%, is used to pay employees. Since the inception of the severe budget reductions in the 2021/2022 financial year, the department has already reduced its staff by 4 231 posts (as of 31 December 2024) and currently reflects 8 690 vacant posts, the committee heard.
The KZN Treasury also addressed the meeting. The committee heard that the projected overspend for KZN’s education department for the 2025 year-end is R1.4 billion per January in-year monitoring against cost of employment (CoE) in the main. Historical unauthorised expenditure (2019-2024) amounted to R1 billion. In the financial year 2023/24, unauthorised expenditure amounted to R63 million.
Furthermore, based on the KZN education department’s budget submissions, it is estimated that the department will have a CoE shortfall of R2,7 billion. KZN Treasury went on to say that CoE is protected and money is taken from other line items to fund CoE. The provincial education department has also not reduced spending on the other line items to align with this and therefore overcommits and spends money it does not have. This has resulted in significant accruals.
The provincial education department told the committee that the impact of overspending on the CoE budget has meant that several priority areas have not been achieved. This includes the department being liable for breach of contract with service providers. In addition, not being able to afford educators and support staff places extreme workloads on officials and increases internal control risks where there is insufficient staff to ensure delegations of authority are met. Furthermore, the inability to pay subsistence and travel allowances affects the department’s ability to monitor schools. It has also led to the unavailability of tools of trade and hampered the payment of transfers to schools due to cash blocking. Provision of learner-teacher support material is also compromised.
Ms Maimela appealed to the provincial education department to relook at its spending, including its subsidies to independent schools. “You behave as if you have an obligation to subsidise independent schools. Legislation merely states that the MEC “may” subsidise independent schools. That money can be utilised to fill gaps at public schools,” she emphasised.
Committee members across the board raised concerns about the impact the lack of budget is having on the quality of learning taking place. Ms Maimela said the committee will make a request to the Speaker of Parliament to engage National Treasury to better understand the impact of the budget shortages and to find solutions for this situation.
The oversight visit will continue today to schools in the Ilembe education district.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION, MS JOY MAIMELA.
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