MEC announces education budget
The MEC for education in Mpumalanga, Ms Reginah Mhaule, only requested R20 million of the almost R17 billion budget to be allocated to address this critical problem.
MBOMBELA – Despite the fact that South Africa’s maths and science were ranked last in the world by the World Economic Forum’s Global Information Technology report 2015, the MEC for education in Mpumalanga, Ms Reginah Mhaule, only requested R20 million of the almost R17 billion budget to be allocated to address this critical problem.
On Thursday Mhaule delivered the 2015/16 policy and budget speech and asked the house to approve the R16 856 769 000 for moving the education of the children of the Place of the Rising Sun forward in the 2015/16 financial year (click here for a summary).
Regardless the relatively small amount, Mhaule, however, reassured concerned citizens that the department was taking a radical approach in increasing the enrolment and performance in mathematics and physical sciences by means of the provincial maths and science and technology academy (MSTA).
“The department will work tirelessly to improve the content knowledge, pedagogic and didactic skills of mathematics, science and technology subject teachers and offer direct support to learners in the MST Academy schools,” Mhaule reassured.
She furthermore announced that an additional R39 million would be allocated to procure and install new machinery and equipment consistent with technical subjects that were offered in technical schools. According to her, this would include training and development of skills among teachers.
Mhaule also expressed her hopes that departmental and school-governing bodies would join forces to stimulate the interest of learners to increase enrolment in MST subjects from grade 10.
The importance of special schools and inclusive education were also emphasised.
According to the proposed budget, 60 special school teachers will be trained on the new sign-language curriculum. This, according to Mhaule, is to help manage diversity in the classroom through curriculum differentiation programmes on Braille and on guidelines of special schools as resource centres. The overall budget for public special schools is R225,8 million for this financial year.
Infrastructure will yet again be a top priority. According to Mhaule, the department has budgeted R960,4 million to address all school-infrastructure-related projects. This include the eradication and replacement of inappropriate sanitation infrastructure, the provision of water-reticulation systems and installation of electricity in schools, among others.
The department also highlighted the importance of the National School Nutrition Programme and would continue to build on its success.
Currently, there are 882 809 learners who are benefiting from this programme and according to Mhaule, the department will continue to provide food to learners and also train food handlers on basic hygiene and food preparation.
This year a deworming programme for all pupils from grades R to seven would also be rolled out and the department has allocated a total of R 545,9 million to achieve their goals.
Here is the 2015 Policy and Budget Speech 2015
