1. Allocation

The norms and standards (N&S) allocation for your Section 21 school for the financial year extending from 01 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 is available on CEMIS and can be accessed in the following way:

  • Log on to CEMIS.
  • Select "Public Ordinary".
  • Select your school.
  • Click "Proceed". Point to the "Administration" menu item and click on "Norms and Standards Allocation ". Select "N&S 2016".
  • Print the page.

Your attention is drawn to the following:

1.1 Allocations are calculated in accordance with the prescripts in paragraphs 108 to 113 of the National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSSF) in Government Gazette 29179, dated 31 August 2006.
1.2 According to paragraph 109 of the NNSSF, the National Targets Table below, published in Government Notice No. 12, Government Gazette No. 37230 of 17 January 2014, indicates the 2016 per learner targeted amounts. The no-fee threshold will be R1 177.

National table of targets for the school allocation Gr 1-12 (2016-2018)

  2016 2017* 2018*
NQ1 1 177 1 242 1 311
NQ2 1 177 1 242 1 311
NQ3 1 177 1 242 1 311
NQ4 590 622 656
NQ5 204 215 227
No-fee threshold 1 177 1 242 1 311
*2017 & 2018 figures adjusted with projected inflation rate

1.3 The allocation letter includes the allocation for 2016/17, as well as provisional allocations for the next two financial years, i.e. 2017/18 and 2018/19. All allocations were calculated on the 2015 learner enrolment as on 31 July 2015.

2. Payment schedule
2.1 Schools charging school fees

Schools will receive their N&S allocation for the 2016/17 financial year in two instalments, namely 60% in April-May 2016 and 40% in November 2016. Section 21 schools must use their first transfer payment (60%), which will be made during April-May 2016, to purchase their 2017 learning and teaching support material (LTSM, either via their own suppliers or the online ordering system, so that it is available before the end of September 2016, and to pay for other expenses, as stipulated in paragraph 3.1 below. The second transfer payment (40%), which will be made during November 2016, must be used to cover appropriate school-related expenses up to the end of the state’s financial year, i.e. 31 March 2017.

2.2 No-fee schools

20% of the total N&S allocation that is paid over in April-May 2016 (see paragraph 2.1 above) must be reserved to defray day-to-day operational non-personnel expenditure. Schools will be informed of this amount in the N&S allocation letter. It must be borne in mind that this amount must sustain the school until April 2017, when payment will be received for the next financial year.


3. Use of the allocation
3.1 The N&S allocation is intended primarily for LTSM, local purchases, municipal services, essential day-to-day maintenance of school buildings, grounds and equipment (non-scheduled maintenance) and other everyday expenses. Own income, as intended in paragraph 6 below, must first be used to cover shortfalls in the above regard before it is used to finance governing body posts.

It is suggested that for 2016/17 schools divide their available allocation as follows among the various expenditure categories:

  • 30% for LTSM orders for 2017, of which 10% should be targeted for library material (Each learner must have a textbook for each subject. The stock of school library material should be augmented annually until the total number of items reflects the minimum international standard of 10 items per learner. See paragraph 3.1.1 below for the list of items included under LTSM.);
  • 25% for municipal services (However, schools should budget for a larger percentage if expenditure tendencies necessitate this.);
  • 25% for maintenance; and
  • 20% for local purchases.
3.1.1 Learning and teaching support material (LTSM)

  1. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) defines LTSM as any material that supports and facilitates teaching and learning directly in the classroom or at home (homework). It includes the following:
    • Textbooks, readers, reference books, prescribed works, atlases and dictionaries;
    • Workbooks;
    • Posters, maps and wall charts;
    • Educational board games;
    • Library material (fiction and non-fiction), reference books, posters, and recordings on videos, DVDs, audio cassettes, CDs, CD-ROMs, multi-media, etc.;
    • Computer software and licensing; and
    • Resource material for educators, learners, classroom and library.

  2. Schools are required to use their full LTSM allocation to purchase LTSM that will enrich and strengthen the implementation of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) in their classes. Schools are therefore encouraged to use their LTSM allocation to purchase supplementary textbooks, prescribed works, atlases, dictionaries, workbooks, posters, maps, wall charts, educational board games, library material (fiction and non-fiction), reference books, recorded videos, DVDs, audio cassettes, CDs, CD-ROMs, computer software, consumer studies and hospitality studies and science laboratory equipment.

  3. Subject to the following conditions, schools may assign less money to LTSM if:
    • each learner in the school has a textbook for each subject and access to other LTSM resources;
    • the school has annually allocated 10% of the LTSM allocation for the purchasing of library material to augment the library stock and the total number of items in the library stock now constitutes the minimum international standard of 10 items per learner; and
    • the governing body has taken a formal decision regarding this deviation. (This decision of the governing body regarding the budget, which must be submitted at a parents' meeting, must be explained and the amount spent per learner on LTSM must be provided. This decision must be put before the parents' meeting, whether the IMG manager supports it or not.)

  4. How to obtain LTSM:
    • Section 21 schools must obtain competitive quotations in placing their LTSM orders with suppliers of LTSM, where applicable, or submit their requests online via the CEMIS when required;
    • When ordering additional LTSM, schools must select all CAPS textbooks from the approved national catalogues (refer to approved national catalogues that are available on the WCED website at http://wcedonline.pgwc.gov.za/branchPS/LTSM/index.html);
    • Prescribed literature for Grades 10 to 12 for 2015 must be selected from the recommended prescribed books list circulated to schools.
    • For assistance in selecting school library material, schools should contact Ms Helene Johnston the EDULIS Evaluator: Curriculum Resources at tel. no. 021 957 9620. The district school library adviser and/or resource centre co-ordinator can also be contacted regarding the development of school libraries.
3.1.2 Municipal services

  1. The N&S allocation to schools is intended for the payment of, amongst others, schools’ monthly municipal services accounts, which includes electricity, water, sewage and refuse removal (availability and usage charges), but excludes the payment of property tax. As in the past, the state will pay the property tax on property registered in the name of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape (PGWC) or in certain circumstances the Republic of South Africa (RSA).

  2. Schools must still implement, amongst others, the savings measures indicated in Annexure A.

  3. ESKOM and most municipalities have indicated they can make prepaid electricity meters available to schools. This will enable schools to better control their electricity consumption. Schools must contact either Eskom or their local municipality, as applicable, should they want to have prepaid electricity meters installed.

  4. Where it is established that schools are not settling their municipal service accounts, the WCED reserves the right to withhold funds from the N&S allocation to pay outstanding municipal service accounts on behalf of the school concerned.
3.1.3 Day-to-day maintenance

  1. Day-to-day maintenance applies to the maintenance of grounds, cleaning, renovations, repairs and/or replacement of parts of school buildings. Regular maintenance must be carried out to prevent the deterioration of school buildings and emergency repairs resulting from neglect.

  2. Where the N&S allocation for day-to-day maintenance is insufficient, schools are expected to supplement the allocation from their own school funds, where necessary. Schools must budget for their day-to-day maintenance repairs in accordance with the condition of the school building and grounds. Schools should set aside a budget amount from their annual day-to-day maintenance allocation for the maintenance of equipment used to enhance the appearance of the school grounds, e.g. servicing the lawnmower, purchasing paint for benches on the school grounds, and purchasing lime and fertiliser.

  3. N&S allocations may not be used for day-to-day repairs to hostels. Such repairs should be funded from the learners’ boarding fees and bursaries.
3.2 The WCED will not accept responsibility for the payment of accounts where schools spend more than the amount allocated for this purpose. According to section 21(1)(d), of the South African Schools Act (SASA), 1996 (Act 84 of 1996), governing bodies have accepted to cover these costs themselves.

4. The N&S allocation may NOT be used for the following:

  • Remuneration of governing body employed personnel;
  • New buildings;
  • Hostel expenditure;
  • Loans to individuals or other institutions; or
  • Vehicles.
5. Major emergency repairs

In terms of paragraph 97 of the NNSSF, the WCED accepts responsibility for major emergency repairs to buildings, subject to the availability of funds budgeted for such eventualities. The following repairs will be considered according to the procedures in Circular 175/2000:

CATEGORY A

Serious damage as a result of natural disasters, structural problems and fires.

The WCED will accept responsibility for such emergency repairs only if the cost exceeds R5 000 and the maintenance allocation budget is exhausted provided that sufficient funds are available.

The WCED will, at its own discretion, consider making a transfer payment for the materials in relatively less serious cases.


6. Own income

In terms of section 36(1) of SASA governing bodies must take all reasonable steps to supplement the resources supplied by the state in order to improve the quality of education provided by the school to all learners at the school. Although no-fee schools may not charge compulsory school fees (including registration fees), they are encouraged to seek voluntary contributions (donations) and engage in fundraising activities.


7. Reporting
7.1 The approved budget of the school must be submitted to the relevant district office by 01 December of each year.
7.2 All schools must submit a WCED 043 form (biannual report) to the relevant district office within 30 days of the end of the quarter (expenditure up until 30 June and 31 December). Funds will be paid over to schools only if satisfactory WCED 043 reports on the financial activities of previous quarters have been received. Furthermore, section 43(5) of SASA requires schools to submit (for the attention of the relevant district director) a copy of their audited set of financial statements (in terms of section 43 of SASA) for the previous financial year by 30 June of each year.

8. Further conditions
8.1 The governing body must exercise proper control over revenue and expenditure, as set out in the Manual: Basic Financial System for Schools, issued by the Head of Department in terms of section 38(1) of SASA. Should the members of the governing body not have the necessary expertise to carry out this function, they must co-opt someone who will be able to assist them.
8.2 All school funds, obtained both from the state allocation and own income, must be used for purposes directly connected with education, as stated in section 37(6) of SASA, including the acquisition of LTSM. In terms of WCED policy, textbooks and readers may not be photocopied as this is tantamount to infringement of the Copyright Act, 1978 (Act 98 of 1978).
8.3 The WCED has the right to inspect records relating to school funds and to act against any member of staff or the governing body should he or she be involved in the mismanagement of school funds. Schools must, therefore, keep all proof of income and expenditure for this purpose.

9. Final allocation letter

The WCED will review all schools’ learner enrolments with the 2016 10th Day Survey. Final allocation letters will be published on CEMIS by 31 March 2016.


10. 2015/16 allocation

All outstanding WCED 043 forms for Section 21 schools must be submitted on or before Monday, 29 February 2016, to prevent forfeiture of unpaid funds.


11. Contact numbers for enquiries

Subject Name Telephone no.
WCED 043 biannual reports and audited annual financial statements District Office Deputy Director: Corporate Services Applicable district office
Transfer payments to schools (N&S allocations) Ms M Paulsen 021 467 2271
Emergency repairs Mr G Meyer 021 467 2983
e-Learning
EDULIS Co-ordinator: School Library Services
Mr C Walker
Ms H Johnston
021 467 2351
021 957 9620
General enquiries: Norms and standards Mr A Adams
Mr L van Wyk
021 467 2180
021 467 2658
Fax no.
086 293 5822


SIGNED: PA VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2015:11:25

South African Schools Act (SASA),1996 (Act 84 of 1996)  (size: 255 KB)
Government Gazette 29179  (size: 891 KB)
Annexure A: Savings on municipal services  (size: 26 KB)

WCED Forms:
The following form is in Excel® format.
To save it for later use, click on the "zipped" link below and follow the intructions.
If you have Excel® installed on this computer, click on the "XLS" link below (the form will open in a separate window: to return to this circular, close that window)

Form WCED 043: Quarterly Report  ("zipped" version, size: 33 KB)
Form WCED 043: Quarterly Report  ("XLS" version, size: 57 KB)