Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube believes the department is ready to rebuild South Africa’s education system. On 10 July 2025, she presented the 2025/26 education budget in Parliament, confirming a total allocation of over R35 billion, which is 8% more than the previous year.
She described the budget as a tool for “builders” — people willing to fix problems, not just point them out. Gwarube said the department must support teachers, upgrade schools, and help children learn better. But she also warned that money is tight, and real change will take time.
Provinces Under Pressure as Budget Constraints Continue
Many provincial education departments, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, are struggling with unpaid school funds, unfilled posts, and weak infrastructure. Gwarube confirmed that years of funding SOEs instead of schools have caused deep damage.
She has now ordered all provinces to submit credible financial recovery plans by end of July. These plans must explain how they will fix issues like:
- Ghost workers and vacant posts
- Delayed school repairs
- Breakdowns in support services
She stressed that provinces must protect money meant for teaching, infrastructure, and learner support. No funds should go toward unnecessary projects.
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Five Priorities to Strengthen the Education System
Gwarube listed five key goals to rebuild trust in the sector:
1. Stronger Reading and Maths Skills
The department is investing R4.6 billion into curriculum development. This includes training teachers and improving learning materials. The aim is to ensure that all children can read and calculate by age ten.
2. Better Support for Inclusive Education
The budget also covers plans to improve learning for children with special needs. This includes more tools, trained staff, and new guidelines.
3. Investing in Teacher Development
Over R1.8 billion has been set aside for teacher training, mentorship, and leadership development. Gwarube said no change will work unless teachers feel supported and ready.
4. Improved Infrastructure and Safety
A major part of the R15.3 billion Education Infrastructure Grant (EIG) will be used to:
- Eliminate pit toilets
- Repair damaged buildings
- Build more classrooms
5. Expanding Early Childhood Access
Grade R readiness is a top focus. The ECD Conditional Grant now stands at R1.7 billion, with extra funds for:
- ECD Nutrition Pilot: R230 million
- ECD Infrastructure Projects: R162 million
Curriculum Updates and Mother-Tongue Support Coming
Gwarube said the National Catalogue for Grades 1 to 3 is being updated. The new version will be ready by 2027 and will include better books that match the school curriculum.
Another R57 million is planned for a mother-tongue-based bilingual programme, helping children learn in both their home language and English.
Nutrition and Daily Needs Receive Strong Backing
Over R10 billion of the budget will fund the National School Nutrition Programme, which feeds more than 9 million learners daily. This is seen as key for both learning and health.
Mixed Response from Education Stakeholders
Matakanya Matakanye, from the National Association of School Governing Bodies, welcomed the effort. But he said more should be done for rural and township schools, where learners face greater challenges.
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Hi, I’m Amandeep Singh, a content writer at Ramnath Intercollage. I share updates on jobs, internships, and scholarships across South Africa using official and trusted sources. My aim is to make every post easy to read and helpful for anyone looking to apply.
