The Gauteng Department of Education has increased its budget as it tackles infrastructure backlogs, overcrowding and financial pressures.
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The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has increased its budget to prioritise key challenges within the sector.
These include overcrowding, infrastructure backlogs, and performance improvements in critical areas such as Mathematics, Science, Technology, reading development and technical education.
The department’s budget has increased by R2.9 billion, from R68 billion in the 2025-26 financial year to R70.9 billion in 2026-27.
Infrastructure development
The department noted that infrastructure remains one of the biggest constraints facing Gauteng public education.
“We continue to face enormous challenges arising from rapid in-migration, urbanisation, overcrowding, infrastructure backlogs, and growing learner demand, particularly in township, informal settlement and inner-city schools,” the GDE noted.
In an effort to address overcrowding and backlogs at schools in the West Rand, where hundreds of pupils continue to attend classes in ageing asbestos structures, the department has allocated R2.7 billion towards infrastructure investment.
The GDE has noted that these allocations will not resolve all historical backlogs immediately, but added that they represent an important step towards easing overcrowding and improving learning conditions in some of the most affected communities.
Combatting discrimination
Amid infrastructure challenges and reports earlier in June, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in the Western Cape noted concerns after finding that only African and Coloured pupils appeared on waiting lists collected by schools in the province.
The GDE has allocated R3.7 billion towards education modernisation initiatives, including school reorganisation, district support, principal development, and the expansion of schools of specialisation.
Grade R and beyond
R994 million has been allocated towards expanding access to Grade R in an effort to strengthen early childhood development as the foundation of educational success.
According to the department, these focused interventions aim to improve literacy, numeracy and subject performance, particularly in gateway subjects.
Financial Strain
The GDE has also set aside R1.2 billion to improve critical learning areas such as Mathematics, Science, Technology, reading development and technical education.
