The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) announced that it would have to abandon plans to build 21 new schools this year due to national government funding cuts.
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Due to a R716 million funding shortfall, students in the Western Cape will be denied access to eight new and replacement schools.
The Western Cape Government passed an R2.9 billion infrastructure plan in March to build 21 new schools and 289 additional classrooms to meet this demand for pupil placement.
The plan came to an end in June, when National Treasury announced significant cuts to provincial funding totaling R537 million.
The Basic Education Department also reduced the province’s conditional grants by R179.4 million.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond told News24 that only 13 of the planned 21 new and replacement schools would be built.
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Fisherhaven, Plettenberg Bay, Belhar, Wallacedene, Lwandle, Macassar, Belhar, Saldanha, Diep River, Hout Bay, Heidelberg, Blue Downs, and Philippi are currently under construction.
‘In addition, there are classrooms being constructed at existing schools to provide additional accommodation. In total, our revised plan aims to deliver 608 additional classrooms across the province, which is still more than double the average number built annually before 2022/2023, despite the infrastructure budget cut,’ she said.
Hammond was unable to provide a list of areas where schools would no longer be built.
The push for more classrooms comes as the WCED struggles to keep up with an increasing number of students.
Education MEC David Maynier stated that, on average, the number of students in Western Cape schools has increased by 19 000 per year over the last five years, and that ‘additional learners continue to need places every year.’
According to Hammond, the province currently has an average pupil-to-teacher ratio of 1:35, with schools in Bellville, Kuils River, Strand, Lwandle, Khayelitsha, Milnerton, Du Noon, Durbanville, and Mitchells Plain experiencing classroom overcrowding.
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WCED fighting to place students despite significant budget cuts
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