WC Government allocates R75.251 billion to education over next three years
On 5 March 2019, Western Cape Finance Minister, Ivan Meyer, delivered the 2019/20 provincial budget speech. In his speech, Minister Meyer outlined the provincial government's priority spending plan for the financial year.
The 2019 Western Cape budget once again prioritises essential needs of all citizens, to promote and support service delivery with a focus on frontline services, youth, jobs, safety, infrastructure, climate change and good governance.
Meyer announced that a total of R75.251 billion has been allocated over the 2019 MTEF towards the delivery of quality education in the province. An additional R1.214 billion has been allocated to accommodate increasing service load pressures, as a result of the year-on-year increases in learner numbers in the province.
Teacher development programmes has been prioritised with an allocation of R337.932 million over the 2019 MTEF, with a focus on ICT training and the introduction of the Change mind-set intervention which encourages agility in the adoption of innovative learning approaches.
Learner performance in Maths, Science and Technology receives an allocation of R109.9 million over the 2019 MTEF.
The Safe Schools initiative within the WCED has been allocated a budget of R112.518 million over the 2019 MTEF. These include, installation of secure perimeter fencing, restricted electronic access, monitored alarm systems, Safe Schools Call Centre, Walking Bus programme, Security Resilience Scorecard, and strategic partnerships between schools and communities.