By Johnathan Paoli

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has welcomed the progress made in addressing challenges in South African schools, including persistent issues such as water and sanitation, overcrowding and the maintenance of school buildings.

However, she says more needs to be done.

Addressing the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in a hybrid plenary session on infrastructure at schools, Gwarube reiterated that collaborative efforts between national and provincial education departments, the private sector and development partners would ensure quality education outcomes.

She acknowledged that while significant progress had been made, challenges remained, particularly in underprivileged areas, calling for good governance principles in the face of budgetary constraints.

“There has been systemic underfunding of the education sector for the last 10 years, but at the same time we have to be better at managing our money in the best way we can to deliver the kind of outcomes we can,” the minister said.

During the question session, African National Congress MP Mpho Modise raised concerns about hostel facilities, child-headed homes in the Eastern Cape and the lack of infrastructure for teacher accommodation.

He stressed the need for continued investment and robust monitoring mechanisms to address these disparities.

Gwarube responded by stating that boarding schools in rural areas needed an innovative solution due to declining student numbers in smaller schools. However, she acknowledged that maintenance of these hostels was a critical factor that must be accounted for in provincial budgets.

Umkhonto weSizwe Party’s Edward Nzimande questioned the accuracy of departmental reports, particularly regarding claims that no schools lacked electricity.

He also pressed for clarity on the actual achievements versus the projected targets of the department.

Gwarube admitted that while great strides have been made, variables such as weather conditions, contractor accountability and security threats posed by criminal syndicates have slowed progress.

Democratic Alliance MP Nicola du Plessis highlighted concerns about overcrowding, particularly in Gauteng, where many schools have doubled their classroom sizes due to high enrollment.

The minister acknowledged the issue, noting that while the international standard learner-teacher ratio was 30:1, many South African classrooms exceeded this number.

The department aimed to reallocate resources and prioritise school expansions to mitigate this challenge.

The ANC’s Malesela Mokwele raised the importance of public-private partnerships in education infrastructure development.

While Gwarube welcomed such collaborations, she insisted that they must comply with national policies to protect learners’ dignity and prevent schools from becoming “corporate playgrounds”.

She confirmed that the department was drafting regulations to ensure that public-private partnerships remained accountable and beneficial to students.

The minister also emphasised the need for a proactive maintenance strategy to prevent existing infrastructure from deteriorating.

She pointed out that while replacing mud and asbestos schools remained a priority, provincial governments must allocate a portion of their budgets to routine upkeep.

The ANC’s Desery Fienies and EFF’s Khanya Ceza raised concerns about disparities in school infrastructure, particularly regarding access to sports facilities, libraries and laboratories.

Gwarube assured members that the department has prioritised historically disadvantaged schools in infrastructure upgrades, though budget constraints continued to pose a challenge.

ANC MP Mtikeni Sibande asked about interventions to prevent theft and vandalism in schools.

Gwarube revealed that she and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu would soon announce a collaborative strategy to tackle school-related crime.

Regarding special needs education, Fienies sought clarity on infrastructure provisions for disabled learners.

Gwarube stated that targeted budget allocations have been made to support special needs schools and ensure compliance with accessibility standards.

On Early Childhood Development (ECD), ANC’s Cecilia Nxumalo raised concerns about unregulated creches.

The minister acknowledged these challenges and noted that a massive ECD registration drive was underway.

She emphasised the importance of providing proper facilities and trained educators to strengthen early learning foundations.

Concerns about budget spending and oversight were a key theme throughout the session.

MPs such as DA’s Jeanne Adriaanse questioned how the department ensured provincial MECs are held accountable for infrastructure targets.

Gwarube responded that while the national department provided policy direction, implementation was the responsibility of provincial governments.

The EFF’s Virgill Gericke criticised the slow pace of infrastructure development in previously disadvantaged schools.

Gwarube responded that budget prioritisation was a balancing act but reaffirmed the department’s commitment to equitable infrastructure development.

NCOP deputy chairperson Poobalan Govender expressed support for increased budget allocations to education, stating that many aspects of society touched education, and interdepartmental collaboration would be crucial in overcoming the challenges.

With commitments to better oversight, strengthened maintenance strategies and enhanced infrastructure development, he said the briefing underscored the government’s determination to create safe, modern and conducive learning environments for all learners across South Africa.

INSIDE EDUCATION