The North West Department of Education has secured the largest chunk of funding for the 2023/24 financial year, with the budget allocation to enhance the province’s education sector.

The Education MEC in the province, Viola Motsumi, tabled a budget of R21.932-billion, marking the highest ever for the department and the largest allocation among provincial government departments. A substantial 85.6% of the department’s budget, or R16.921-billion, has been allocated for the compensation of employees. 

She noted that the national level reduced the budget for employee compensation by approximately R600 million, impacting the department’s ability to fill critical school and office-based positions.

Education MEC in the province, Viola Motsumi. Picture supplied

“The budget for Compensation of Employees was reduced by about R600 million at national level. This has had a negative impact on the operations of the department due to the inability to fill certain critical vacant school and office-based posts,” Motsumi said. 

“The department continues to work closely with Treasury and the Office of the Premier to finalise the review of its organisational structure for a possible phased-in implementation approach from 2025/26 onward.”

‘The allocation of this programme will also fund on-the-job training’

The department wants to revise its organisational structure to ensure it effectively supports the department’s strategic mandate. “The allocation of this programme will also fund on-the-job training for 818 school and office-based support staff.”

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg/cg