Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has requested an urgent meeting with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to discuss possible solutions to budget cuts that are hitting the education sector hard.

A CAUSE FOR CONCERN

Gwarube said that more than 3,400 public teachers are at risk of losing their jobs ahead of the 2025 school year, with the provincial education departments considering drastic cost-saving measures to retain positions. Gwarube said the budget cuts include cutting the scholar transport programmes and school feeding schemes, which benefit some of the provinces' most vulnerable pupils. "In response to the crisis that is facing particularly the education sector, I have convened two special meetings of the council of education ministers and these meetings have brought together MECs from across the country and we have conducted a thorough analysis of the budget challenges that are faced by each province," Gwarube said.

A WAY FOWARD

The minister also said that for the first time in a decade, they now have a clearer picture of where the most significant budget pressures are and how to engage Treasury to try and come up with solutions. "As a result, I also requested an urgent meeting with the minister of finance to discuss the matter further. I am grateful to Minister Godongwana for his cooperation and support on this important matter. We are also appreciative of the Treasury's willingness to engage the education sector. Ultimately, a solution must be found in order for frontline services to be protected." She added that she has requested the convening of a political ten-by-ten meeting, which will be co-chaired by the ministers of finance, basic education, the 10 provincial departments of education and the 10 provincial treasury departments. "Again, this is designed so that we can work together and find immediate solutions to try and salvage the situation and also look at longer-term solutions on how to make sure we protect the critical services we need in our schools."