In spite of budget cuts, WCED offers free education – DA WCape – POLITICS

Despite being wracked by budget cuts as a result of national government’s poor spending decisions, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has continued to push forward in its mission to deliver quality education for all. According to the department’s 2023/2024 Annual Report which was tabled today, the Department now provides quality no-fee education to more than 730 000 learners across the Western Cape.

This is despite significant budget cuts which the WCED has faced in recent months, prompted in large part by national government’s failure to fund the 2023 public sector wage increase. However, the report reveals that while the WCED has had to carefully navigate these changes, it has still managed to achieve impressive results. During the reporting period, six brand-new schools reached completion, while a further nine new schools remain under construction. The Department also completed more than 100% of its planned school maintenance, demonstrating renewed commitment to growing and maintaining the infrastructure which allows our youth to learn.

The WCED also provided additional training and resources to continue tech-enabled learning. 918 880 learners and 30 205 educators are currently connected to e-Learning resources. The Western Cape is currently home to 9 981 Smart Classrooms across 806 schools, while a further 1 657 classrooms across 273 schools set to be rolled out in the upcoming fiscal year. Additionally, the Department has provided training for more than 5 000 teachers on the use of these techniques and technologies.

DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Education Leon van Wyk says: “In spite of difficult budget cuts from national, today’s Annual Report contains convincing evidence that our Education Department is committed to putting our children first. With more than 730 000 children now receiving quality no-fee education, continuing progress to construct and expand schools, and a forward-thinking focus that incorporates more and more technology in our classrooms, the department is still managing to educate and prepare the citizens of the future.”