By Levy Masiteng
The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) are at loggerheads over claims of a drastic 64% reduction in operational budgets for Quintile 5 schools, due to take effect from 1 April.
The DA has accused the department of slashing funding in a way that will “devastate schools, teachers and learners.”
ALSO READ:Â Next wave of infrastructure investment must include people, not only platforms
The GDE, however, has dismissed the allegations as “false, misleading, and reckless.”
Gauteng DA spokesperson for education, Michael Waters, said the department’s denial “is a lie” and contradicts its own official responses in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).
“The GDE’s claim that it has not cut Quintile 5 school budgets by 64% is hollow and misleading,” Waters argued.
He added that “no government facing a budget shortfall should ever consider cutting funding to schools. It is unjust, unfair, and ultimately the coward’s way out. Instead of taking difficult decisions to rein in waste and non‑core spending, the ANC‑led Gauteng government has chosen the softest and most vulnerable target – children.”
The GDE insists that what is being implemented is not a cut but an interim funding realignment, prompted by severe budget reductions imposed by the National Treasury across all provinces.
ALSO READ:Â Manamela urges shift from university-only mindset
According to the department, the adjusted funding levels for Quintile 5 schools are aligned with the national norms and standards for school funding set by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).
“This process does not constitute a budget cut, but rather a realignment to nationally prescribed adequacy rates, particularly correcting the historical funding of certain Quintile 5 fee‑paying schools,” the GDE said.
The department added that schools were notified as early as September last year through indicative budget allocation certificates, providing what it described as “ample notice and transparency.”
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane acknowledged the province is grappling with a R444 million shortfall in the current financial year and a projected R160 million shortfall over the 2026 Medium‑Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
“This is a temporary stabilisation intervention designed to keep the system functional and compliant while managing severe financial constraints,” Chiloane said.
“Despite these constraints, the GDE has prioritised the protection of classrooms, ensured teaching and learning continue uninterrupted, and honoured its Learning and Teaching Support Material payments in full and on time.”
Chiloane also argued that if petitions are to be delivered, they should be directed to the Department of Basic Education, which is responsible for national funding norms and allocations.
ALSO READ:Â WATCH: McKenzie unveils new sports facility at Heidedal Primary School
Waters rejected the department’s terminology.
“This is not a ‘realignment’. It is not a ‘stabilisation intervention’. It is a cut and a devastating one at the expense of schools, teachers, and learners.”
The DA has launched a public petition calling for the reversal of the alleged cuts. As of Saturday, the petition had gathered 5,241 signatures, with 24,759 more needed to reach its target of 30,000 supporters.
INSIDE EDUCATION
