Education

My department has informed me of the following:
The National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSSF) aim to ensure equitable allocation of resources to schools, particularly by prioritising the needs of learners in low-income and rural areas.
Key measures in place include:
• The Quintile System: Schools are categorised into quintiles (from 1 to 5) based on socio-economic factors. Quintile 1 to 3 (no-fee) schools receive more funding per learner than Quintile 4 and 5 fee-charging schools.
• Poverty index: The NNSSF bases funding allocations on the poverty index of the community where the school is situated. This ensures that schools in poorer, often rural, areas are prioritised.
• No-fee schools: Schools in Quintiles 1 to 3 are classified as no-fee schools, and learners attending these schools do not have to pay school fees.
• Additional no-fee schools: Since the Western Cape has a low percentage of learners in Quintile 1 to 3 schools compared to other provinces, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has declared and funded additional no-fee schools in Quintiles 4 and 5 relative to our national allocation, allowing for greater support to learners in low-income communities.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Provincial education departments are tasked with monitoring the disbursement and use of funds to ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the resources.