Spend wisely, education urged
2007-02-25 20:15
Johannesburg - If the budgeted money allocated to the department of education is to make any difference to the dysfunctional performance of schools, the department needs to be more efficient, said the Democratic Alliance on Sunday.
"The critical factor is whether this additional R8.1bn will be actually used to address the critical weaknesses in our education system, or whether it will simply go towards producing more of the same," said DA spokesperson George Boinamo.
He said the DA was happy with the money allocated to the department during Wednesday's budget speech.
Although the number of pupils writing matric exams had increased, the number of those getting matric exemption had remained roughly the same.
Better pay for teachers
"We still face a situation where almost 80% of our schools produce dismal results," he said.
The budgeted allocation would allow for the building of more schools and better pay for teachers.
"However, many of the causes of the non-performance of the education system require new policy and administrative interventions, rather than more money," said Boinamo.
- SAPA