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By Johnathan Paoli
Despite the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union hitting out at the Northern Cape education department for failing to provide resources to schools, the department says its largely pleased with the start of the school year.
Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said that while his department acknowledged a delay in the disbursement of norms and standard allocations, it was as a result of budget cuts.
“The situation we find ourselves in is not as a result of the mismanagement of funds and also not Northern Cape specific. At the beginning of the 2024/25 financial year, the department absorbed a budget reduction of R232 million and a further reduction of R60 million during the financial year,” Van der Merwe said on Wednesday.
He said the 4.7% cost-of-living wage adjustment for government employees, estimated at R295 million, was not funded, creating a financial gap of nearly R600 million, significantly straining the department’s resources.
Van der Merwe announced that the department was launching a 10-day snapshot survey to identify and address any shortcomings in schools, such as additional furniture, teaching staff, and Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM).
It aimed to resolve challenges that might hinder teaching and learning.
This follows Sadtu in the province voicing deep concern over the state of education, accusing the department of failing to uphold its commitments.
Provincial secretary Palesa Nqumashe said that despite assurances made during a meeting in December, schools were grappling with numerous issues, including inadequate funding, lack of learning materials and unpaid allowances.
Nqumashe said the partial funding was insufficient to cover critical needs such as LTSM, utilities and general school operations, leaving many learners without basic stationery and food.
She disputed claims that all provinces had achieved 100% LTSM delivery, reporting that the Northern Cape received primarily workbooks instead of comprehensive stationery, leaving almost 200 schools reliant on ad-hoc arrangements with service providers.
Additionally, Nqumashe maintained that the delayed appointment of temporary teachers and the partial payment of salary progressions for over 800 education workers have further strained the system.
She criticised the department’s failure to address these issues, calling the situation a violation of children’s constitutional rights.
She highlighted the need for urgent intervention from the authorities to resolve the funding crisis, appoint temporary teachers and ensure all learners have access to necessary resources.
The union warned that the current posture of the department was unacceptable and pledged to take action to restore order and protect public education quality.
INSIDE EDUCATION