Gwarube hoping education budget crisis can be averted

It is one of the issues that the KwaZulu-Natal
Education Department tabled during its meeting with Gwarube at La Mercy, north
of Durban on Thursday.

The provincial department is the most affected,
with a budget shortfall of R4 billion in 2024.

It will severely impact the department’s
ability to create new teacher posts and has reduced the norms and standards
payments to schools.

 READ: Budget cuts ‘will not spare KZN teachers’

There have also been delays in payments to
service providers.

Gwarube has told reporters that budget cuts
have become a national challenge.

“And we are hoping that, really, by the
end of next month when the minister of finance tables the Medium-Term Budget
Policy Statement, then we can be able to see some kind of reprieve for the
sector. 

ALSO READ: Section27 says budget cuts will drastically impact education

“We know that, obviously, the minister of
finance has a lot of other balancing acts, but we do believe that health and
education are critical portfolios. And we need to do everything we can to
protect our frontline services.”

The minister is on a national tour of provinces
to address issues facing the sector.

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