Education
The budget allocation of his Department was increased by R2,2 billion for the 2022/23 budget year:
Whether the increased allocation makes provision for the accommodation of unplaced learners trying to find placement; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
The Western Cape Education Department [WCED] received R2.574 billion over the 2022/23 MTEF to address existing pressure on placements, which will include an increase in the number of teachers in schools, as announced by the former Provincial Minister for Education, Debbie Schäfer, in her budget speech.
The department is aware of the placement pressure we are facing in some of our classrooms. The additional budget will allow us to make some progress in reducing the teacher: learner ratio.
While the actual number is subject to the consultation process with the unions later this year, we hope to add over 1 000 extra posts to the basket.
The department will use the funding to increase the educator basket of posts to relieve placement pressure.
The WCED further prioritised R738 million of the allocation, in addition to the current infrastructure budget, towards addressing infrastructure pressures, focussing on classroom expansions to address placement pressure.
