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Cape Town - Despite improved access and comparatively high
funding levels, the quality of education remains "a central concern",
Treasury said in its 2011 medium-term budget policy statement tabled in the
National Assembly on Tuesday.
"South African learners fare poorly in global
benchmarking exercises," the document says.
"Challenges include inadequate management,
inappropriately trained teachers, insufficient time on task, and a lack of
basic resources in poor schools.
"Low levels of achievement in literacy and numeracy -
illustrated by learner performance in the annual national assessment conducted
for grades 1 to 6 in 2011 - are symptomatic of these problems."
The document says the government recognises the need to
improve the quality of education at all levels, enhancing the skills base and
contributing to a productive labour force.
Projected spending on education over the medium term is
estimated to increase at an average annual rate of 6.7%, reaching R231.7bn by
2014/15.
Spending increases have enabled a broadening of access to
education, according to Treasury.
In 2007, the introduction of no-fee schools began to remove
the burden of paying school fees from the poorest learners.
In 2010, the policy was extended from the poorest 40% of
learners to the poorest 60%. As a result, 8.1 million learners in 20 000
schools did not have to pay school fees.
Over the next three years, funding will be reprioritised to
challenges in education.
Annual national assessments of literacy and numeracy will
continue and be extended to grade 9 in 2011/12.
More than 9 000 student teachers are currently enrolled in the Funza Lushaka bursary programme, with many focusing on science and mathematics tuition.
School infrastructure will be improved in poor schools and
access to grade R will be expanded.
Government will continue to enhance skills development by
strengthening further education and training (FET) colleges, with support for
tuition, machinery and equipment.
The links between sector education and training authorities,
the national skills fund and FET colleges will be enhanced.
In addition to allocations for higher education
institutions, the science and technology vote provides for funding of advanced
research and postgraduate bursaries.
Over the medium term, more funding will be provided to
expand postgraduate programmes and academic centres of excellence.
