Warning over school crisis in South Africa
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says that South Africa’s education system is under immense pressure, warning that budget cuts are starting to meaningfully impact education outcomes—and that by 2027, most provinces won’t be able to afford their budgets at all.
This comes in light of the news that has emerged over recent weeks, where several provincial education departments bemoaned their mounting budget pressures.
“These pressures have been years in the making because of aggressive budget cuts, economic stagnation and fiscal mismanagement across government, which is now set to impact schools,” said Gwarube.
“These budget pressures are not just numbers on a spreadsheet—they translate into fewer teachers, reduced textbooks, and fewer admin support staff, which means teachers spend more time on admin work, thereby reducing learning and teaching time.”
“In essence, the very fabric of our children’s future is under threat,” added the Basic Education Minister.
The impact of budget cuts
Education departments across the country have been feeling the pinch.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane announced that the province would be cutting its budget for school nutrition and scholar transport to save more than 3,000 teaching jobs amid a R4.5 billion budget reduction.
KwaZulu-Natal’s situation is even more dire, with 11,092 teaching posts potentially affected. The province is grappling with a R4 billion budget deficit, forcing cuts in essential services such as Norms and Standards payments to schools.
The Western Cape education department recently announced it would not be filling 2,400 posts due to similar budget constraints, effective January 2025.
Gwarube said that this “move that may result in fewer educators in classrooms [possibly meaning] larger class sizes, reduced individual attention for learners, and, ultimately, a risk to the achievement of quality education outcomes.”
The minister added that other provinces are “desperately working” to find ways of avoiding having to slice budgets for key services like textbooks, admin support and scholar transport programmes, which have already been done in some provinces.
“We are faced with a pending national crisis, one that affects not just our learners but our teachers, principals, and broader communities,” said Gwarube.
Without proactive measures, Gwarube said that provincial education departments will struggle to fund current positions and programs in the next 2-3 years.
For instance:
- 2025/26: 4 provincial departments will battle to cover their budgets
- 2026/27: 5 provinces will battle to cover their budgets.
- 2027/28: 7 provinces will not be able to afford their budgets.
Several provinces have preserved the same post basket for the past three academic years, despite learner numbers increasing, while other provinces have decreased their posts in the past 3 years.
Over the past five years, the education system has gained about 292,820 learners, leading to higher Learner/Educator Ratios.
Gwarube said that it is important to note that these have been cuts in posts, not warm bodies, meaning that no person gets retrenched but rather vacancies are not filled.
Financial constraints have heavily impacted educator provisioning, with provincial departments needing R350 million to R3.8 billion to fully fund their posts.
If this trend continues, many departments may struggle to maintain current staffing levels, and without increasing educator posts, the minister emphasised that teaching quality may decline.
Interventions
In a bid to tackle the impending crisis, Gwarube said that the department has convened two special meetings of the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) to analyse the budget challenges faced by provinces.
“For the first time in a decade, we now have a clearer picture of where the most significant budget pressures lie,” Gwarube said, emphasising the need for engagement with the Treasury.
Gwarube has requested an urgent meeting with Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana, expressing gratitude for the cooperation shown thus far.
“A solution must be found to protect front-line services,” she added, highlighting the necessity of unlocking additional funds to alleviate pressures on the education sector.
Additionally, Gwarube proposed a political 10X10 meeting involving the finance minister and education MECs to address funding challenges.
“We must work together with all 10 treasuries to unlock additional funds to alleviate the pressures facing the education sector, even if it is for the short term, and to prevent further cuts to teaching posts and critical support services like school nutrition and transport,” she urged.
Looking ahead, Gwarube stressed the importance of rethinking investments in education.
“Education is not just another expenditure—it is an investment in our country’s future,” she said.
She outlined key priorities, including increased funding for education, enhanced teacher development, the integration of technology in classrooms, and the eradication of unsafe infrastructure like pit latrines.
Gwarube concluded by asserting that a well-educated population is essential for a competitive economy, vital for addressing the nation’s unemployment crisis.
Minister attributes this to a “legacy of misaligned priorities“
Gwarube said to understand our current situation, it must be recognised that poor government choices in the past have led us here.
South Africa’s economy has stagnated for nearly a decade, with growth rates below 1%, resulting in shrinking tax revenues and budgets for public services like education.
Gwarube stressed that a dynamic economy to generate adequate revenue is required, requiring the adoption of growth-focused economic policies and support for initiatives like Operation Vulindlela to eliminate regulatory barriers and boost investment.
Additionally, she called for the realignment of spending priorities. Between 2013 and 2023, R331 billion was spent bailing out state-owned enterprises (SOEs), diverting funds from critical sectors like education and healthcare.
Corruption has cost South Africa an estimated R1.5 trillion in economic value from 2014 to 2023, further draining resources that could improve public services.
Moreover, “unsustainable” public wage increases over the past 15 years have made the wage bill unaffordable, consuming nearly 35% of government spending and limiting investment in essential areas like education.
Total compensation for civil servants climbed from R408 billion in 2013-14 to R721 billion in 2023-24.
Going forward
“Ladies and gentlemen, our education system is the bedrock of our nation’s future. While we face significant challenges, these are not insurmountable,” said Gwarube.
However, “they require decisive action and an unwavering commitment to putting education first,” she concluded.
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