This initiative, building on the 2022 Rapid School Build programme’s success, marked a significant stride in addressing the educational demand, as evidenced by the 788 classrooms added in 2023.
However, in June 2023, this momentum faced a setback. The National Treasury announced severe cuts to provincial funding, plunging the Western Cape Education Department into fiscal uncertainty.
The sudden halt in spending left infrastructure plans in limbo, unable to confirm contracts without assured funding.
The fiscal emergency’s impact became clear when the Treasury withheld full funding for the public service wage increase.
The Western Cape Education Department received only 64% of its due funds, resulting in a R537 million shortfall. This led the Western Cape government to declare an inter-governmental dispute, seeking fair compensation for the increased wage bill.
Compounding the crisis, the Department of Basic Education slashed the Western Cape’s conditional grants by R179.4 million, affecting various essential components, from infrastructure and early childhood development to math, science and HIV education.
This R716.4 million reduction impacts the province’s ability to maintain and build schools and pay teachers, including a specific R248 million cut to the infrastructure budget.
For the first time, such cuts were enacted within the current financial year, exacerbating the strain as learner placement demands peak.
Despite these setbacks, the Western Cape remains committed to expanding educational access. The revised plan aims to build nine new schools and add 496 classrooms in high-demand areas by 2024.
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Totalling 608 new classrooms, this effort surpasses the average annual construction before 2022/2023, even under reduced budgets.
As of November 22, 2023, the Western Cape has placed 119 110 (98.7%) learners for the 2024 school year, with ongoing efforts for the remaining 1 568 applicants.
The department urged parents to cooperate in this stressful period as it explores all options to ensure timely placements.
The province has made significant efforts to facilitate on-time admissions, yet thousands of late applications are expected. These latecomers present a planning challenge, as their specific needs are unknown.
Western Cape schools are at full capacity, and parents submitting new applications may face delays extending into the first term of the year.