Central SA
#FSbudget: Billions to address education shortfalls─── LUCKY NKUYANE 12:31 Fri, 11 Mar 2022
The Free State Department of Education has been allocated billions during the provincial budget to address pressing issues and shortfalls.
The MEC for Finance, Gadija Brown, on Thursday allocated R50,729 billion to the Department of Basic Education. This money will be spent over three years. Brown says the allocation is to address pressing issues related to the number of educators in schools and other shortfalls within the sector.
According to the National Treasury, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) sets out three-year spending plans of the national and provincial governments. It aims to ensure that budgets reflect the government's social and economic priorities and give substance to the government's reconstruction and development commitments.
On Thursday, MEC Brown announced that cumulatively, the department is allocated an amount of R50,729 billion over the MTEF.
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. MEC Tate Makgoe, we once again would like to use this opportunity to congratulate the department for their sterling work and applaud you for maintaining the top-position with the highest National Senior Certificate pass rate.
"Education is a major determinant of economic growth, employment, and earnings. We have allocated an additional equitable share funding of R1,359 billion over the MTEF,” she adds.
MEC Brown has further revealed that R397,009 million for 2022/23, and R394,093 million for 2023/24 have been allocated for the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI).
OFM News previously reported that the Free State has again achieved the best pass rate in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam for the third consecutive year, outclassing its South African counterparts.
The current reign started in 2019 when it achieved an 88,4% matric pass rate. In 2020, the province achieved a pass rate of 85.1%, outclassing all other provinces. Last year, the province yet again outperformed all eight other provinces with a pass rate of 85.7%.
Read more: #MatricResults2021: FS top achiever for third consecutive year
In 2021, the province also showed an improvement of 0.6% from 2020.
Read more: #MatricResults2021: FS top achievers overwhelmed
The provincial government and the Department of Education celebrated the performance of the 130 top learners across the province after the province attained the top spot in the country.
OFM News
