The KZN Department of Education said a sustainable long-term funding solution is needed for basic education.
The recent allocation of R2 billion to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education is not a solution and will not resolve the department’s financial crisis.
The Department of Education has revealed that the R2 billion allocated to it recently for norms and standards means that its budget in the next financial year will be short by R2 billion.
Furthermore, by November this year, more money will be required to pay for norms and standards that are due. Education is facing a serious crisis; its budget has been cut by close to R28 billion in the past few years, and it is struggling to deliver on some of its objectives due to the unavailability of funds.
In a statement, the Provincial Treasury said that the National Treasury has secured a R2 billion advance of funds to enable the provincial Department of Education to meet its critical obligation of transferring norms and standards payments to schools across the province. The funds were approved on 26 May. The advance funds that are being provided follow cash flow constraints at the provincial level and ensure that payments to schools are not disrupted. The statement added that the National Treasury has indicated that the funds are earmarked for norms and standards transfers to schools. Priority is to be given to settling historic debt due to funding limitations.
