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The Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) denial of the 64% budget cut to schools is a lie. GDE was reacting to the Democratic Alliance (DA) launching a petition against their decision.

The GDE’s claim that it has not cut Quintile 5 school budgets by 64% is hollow and misleading. The department needs only read its own reply to my written question in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), answered by the MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane. That reply clearly confirms that Quintile 5 school allocations are being reduced by approximately 64%.

Instead of confronting the reality of the damage caused by its own decisions, the department is attempting to justify the unjustifiable. No government facing a budget shortfall should ever consider cutting funding to schools. It is unjust, unfair, and ultimately the coward’s way out.

Rather than 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 assault on frontline education services will directly affect children in classrooms.

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.

I therefore reiterate my call on all Gauteng residents, parents, teachers, and communities to oppose this 64% budget slash and to sign the Democratic Alliance’s petition to stop these cuts and protect our schools.

If the MEC cared about children and their education, he would immediately reverse the 64% budget cuts.

To sign the petition, click this link: https://petitions.da.org.za/p/stop-gp-schools-budget-cut

GDE's reply attached. 

Issued by Michael Waters MPL - DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Education