BOSA makes proposals to fund at least R50 billion of the education budget shortfall

29 October 2024

As the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) approaches, BOSA unequivocally opposes any reductions in the education budget and urges the government to identify alternative funding sources.

The estimated R79 billion cuts to the education budget threaten to eliminate nearly 3,000 teaching posts, resulting in larger class sizes, overworked teachers, and diminished quality of education. This is not just about protecting jobs; it’s about safeguarding our children's future and ensuring every child has access to quality learning conditions.

Our children’s future must come first, and teachers must be supported, not discarded. Cutting teaching positions will not only stretch current educators to their limits but will also leave our youth at a disadvantage in an increasingly competitive world.

BOSA has identified several sources from which to redirect at least R50 billion in funds towards the education budget shortfall and ensure teachers are adequately supported, classrooms are maintained at manageable sizes, and educational quality is upheld:

Streamline the Size of Cabinet:

·        Dissolve the Department of Small Business Development and bring its functions under the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition. This alone would save R2.4 billion.

·        Eliminate the Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, saving R1 billion.

·        Abolish Deputy Ministerial roles and associated staff, which cost the government approximately R500 million annually in salaries, staffing, and perks.

Eliminate VIP Protection for Politicians:

·        Politicians are public servants, and extensive VIP protections are an unnecessary luxury in times of fiscal crisis. By cutting this service, we can free up approximately R2 billion.

Redirect SETA Funding to Education:

·        The Skills Education Training Authorities (SETAs) should be privately funded. This shift would free up to R15 billion annually, funds that could directly support teachers and educational infrastructure.

Remove Ineffective Corporate Tax Subsidies:

·        The Employment Tax Incentive costs R6.6 billion annually with little evidence of a positive impact on youth employment. Redirecting this expenditure could better serve our educational sector.

Consolidate Government Marketing Entities:

·        BOSA proposes combining Brand South Africa, South African Tourism, Trade Investment SA, Export Marketing, and the Department of International Relations’ foreign marketing efforts into a single entity. This consolidation could save R5 billion.

Limit Road Accident Fund Payouts:

·        Capping payouts and restricting eligibility for high-income earners would cut down on fraud and misuse of funds. These reforms could free up as much as R20 billion.

The education sector in South Africa is already at a critical juncture, and additional cuts would exacerbate an already challenging situation. By reallocating funds from inefficient or unnecessary government expenditures, we can keep classrooms open, ensure teachers are supported, and uphold a standard of education worthy of our children’s potential.

BOSA will table these adjustments in Parliament and will ask MPs to vote with their good will and conscience on each.

We cannot let our children’s futures be sacrificed to poor budget choices. BOSA calls on the government to adopt these sensible reallocations in the upcoming MTBPS and protect South Africa’s most vital resource: its young people. The next generation deserves better, and it is up to all of us to ensure that they receive it.

Issued by BOSA, 29 October 2024