To understand these budget cuts in context, it is essential to consider the broader fiscal challenges.
By Daniela Ellerbeck and Ezra Mendel on behalf of the FW de Klerk Foundation
Education is the foundation of a nation’s socioeconomic development. In South Africa it is also a fundamental human right enshrined in section 29 of the Constitution.
This guarantees the right to basic education and further education, stating that “everyone has the right to a basic education, including adult basic education; and to further education, which the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible.”
However, this right is under threat due to ongoing budget cuts to the education sector.
Importance of Education in South Africa:
For a country like South Africa with a legacy of deep-rooted inequalities that haunt marginalised communities, education remains a powerful tool to achieve equality.
Schools serve to uplift communities, serving as a platform that develops future leaders who can drive the country’s economic growth and narrow the wealth gap.
South Africa also has a shrinking tax base and a desperate shortage of skilled workers in almost all sectors . On the bright side, unlike countries such as China and Japan, which suffer from a declining youth population, South Africa’s youth (classified as 18- to 34-year-olds) make up approximately a third of the country’s entire population. This means that we have a large future generation who are ready to enter the workforce as taxpayers (for a long time) and that they are in their prime life phase for being upskilled, in exactly the areas we need them skilled in!
This highlights the urgent need to invest in education.
How have the Budget cuts eroded the right to education?
Several provinces are facing significant reductions in education budgets. Many are struggling under the weight of these cuts: The Western Cape is under the spotlight due to its decision to reduce the number of educator posts, a move prompted by severe budget cuts amounting to R3,8 billion. This crisis was further compounded by the national government's decision not to fully fund the 2023 wage agreement, leaving the province to cover 36% of the shortfall.
As a result, education departments across the country are in fiscal distress. For instance, KwaZulu-Natal is unable to afford 11 092 educator posts due to a staggering R4 billion budget shortfall this year. Similarly, Mpumalanga faces a pressure of R876 million, while the North West is grappling with a R485 million gap. Other provinces, such as the Northern Cape and Gauteng, are also making structural changes to cope with these challenges.
South Africa’s broader fiscal context:
To understand these budget cuts in context, it is essential to consider the broader fiscal challenges.
As Minister Gwarube highlighted, the roots of the fiscal crisis lie in poor policy choices and an economy that has stagnated after nearly a decade of corruption and mismanagement.
This legacy has left critical sectors like education vulnerable. While immediate action is necessary to address the shortfall, Minister Gwarube emphasised that long-term solutions must focus on economic growth and prioritising education as a key investment in the country’s future.
"Education is not just an expenditure—it is an investment in our country’s future," she remarked, underscoring the need for increased funding in education, teacher development, educational technology and the eradication of unsafe infrastructure. This balanced approach recognizes that while the current crisis demands swift responses, sustained investment in education is essential to building a more prosperous and stable future for South Africa.
Thoughtworthy Solutions:
While the challenges posed by budget cuts are major, they are not insurmountable. Addressing this issue requires bold, visionary and innovative approaches.
These solutions are feasible in South Africa’s current economic context if education is prioritised and public-private partnerships encouraged.
We cannot forget that we are living in a digital age. Nationwide digital learning platforms, such as Siyavula Education which provides free access to online mathematics, physics and chemistry content and adaptive practice, are an innovative way forward. Expanding the resources available on platforms like this, could be a way forward especially to level the playing field for students who would otherwise not have access to such quality resources.
Another solution would be some sort of National Education Endowment Fund. It could be funded by a portion of lottery revenues and even corporate taxes. This fund will be used to support underfunded areas, emphasising rural education and infrastructure. Such a structure on a national level will ensure education is constantly prioritised, regardless of budgetary shortfalls in any fiscal year.
Another solution that could be investigated is a national volunteer teaching program. As part of this program, retired teachers, university students and trained professionals could be incentivised to spend a year teaching in under-resourced schools. Incentives in the form of stipends and tax breaks should be considered and for those volunteers still studying, they can have their student loans forgiven or cancelled. Not only will this relieve schools struggling with teacher shortages, but it will encourage more people to appreciate and enter teaching as a profession.
Education is a constitutional right, but the recent budget cuts threaten to make this less of a right and more of a luxury for millions of South African children. The impediments to this right: lack of funding, deteriorating infrastructure, teacher shortages and insufficient learning material amplify the need for creative solutions. By investing in funding models, personnel, public-private partnerships and digital transformation, South Africa can overcome these challenges ensuring all children, regardless of background or circumstance can have access to the quality education they deserve. While the obstacles may seem immense, with bold thinking and commitment to the rights envisioned in section 29, South Africa’s future will most definitely be bright.
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