BOSA to support Minister Gwarube by tabling budget amendments to fund the basic education funding shortfall
17 October 2024
We stand at a critical juncture for South Africa’s education system as our matric students prepare to write their final exams, starting on Monday, 21 October 2024.
Firstly, BOSA extends our best wishes to all matric students preparing for their exams. We know the pressure is immense, but your hard work and dedication will pay off. BOSA is committed to fighting for a future where every young South African has the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.
However, every one of the 13 million learners in schools across the country are routinely let down and undermined by the current education system. This must change, and we have an opportunity to change it now.
The appointment of a new Minister of Basic Education as part of the Government of National Unity (GNU) earlier this year presents an opportune moment for a break from the past failures and to forge a new way forward. BOSA wishes to work alongside the new Minister in fixing what is broken and poorly functioning.
Opposing Education Budget Cuts
BOSA unequivocally opposes the planned education budget cuts in the upcoming budget. The looming cuts to the education budget threaten to eliminate nearly 3,000 teaching posts, leading to larger class sizes and overworked teachers. This fight is not just about protecting jobs; it’s about safeguarding the future of our children.
Cutting teaching posts will stretch teachers to their limits, and the quality of education will suffer. We cannot let this happen. Our children’s futures must come first, and teachers must be supported, not discarded.
A Call for Action at the MTBPS
We pledge to work with Minister Gwarube to resist these cuts. The upcoming Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) must find alternative sources of funding from other departments to protect education.
This can begin by cutting the size of the current cabinet, which cost billions of rands each year in salaries, blue light brigades, VIP security details, luxury cars, business class flights and ministerial houses. BOSA will be tabling amendments to the budget in this regard, alongside a number of other cuts.
At a time of economic crisis, this bloated expenditure is indefensible. Ministers cannot live in luxury while millions of South Africans struggle. Instead of cutting funding for education, we urge the Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, to use this month’s MTBPS to cut perks for politicians and redirect these funds to the Department of Basic Education.
This is money that could be used to hire teachers, reduce classroom sizes, and invest in the future of our children. We cannot betray our students, teachers, or the future of South Africa.
10 Point Plan to Fix Basic Education
With an annual education budget of over R300 billion—the largest in Africa—there is little justification for the substandard quality of education. The lack of resources, overcrowded classrooms, unqualified teachers, and inadequate infrastructure are all symptomatic of a system that has failed to live up to its promises over the past 30 years.
To address this, BOSA proposes a 10-point Education Rescue Plan to stabilize and improve the system. We will be submitting this to Minister Gwarube for urgent consideration and implementation.
1. Drop the 30% Pass Mark
The current pass mark of 30% (three subjects at 30%, three at 40%) is unacceptably low, effectively setting a standard where an average of 35% is enough to “pass” matric. This system damages students’ prospects, masks the underperformance of the Department of Basic Education (DBE), and perpetuates mediocrity.
We propose raising the minimum pass mark to 50%. A 50% pass mark will communicate higher expectations, ensuring students have a meaningful mastery of subject content, and equipping them to compete in the global economy.
2. Introduce an Independent Education Ombudsman
Accountability in education is lacking. We propose establishing an independent education ombudsman (Inspector-General of Education) similar to the Dutch Inspectorate of Education. This office would monitor and assess school standards, teacher excellence, and complaints independently of the DBE, reporting directly to Parliament.
Recent and historical examples of wasteful spending highlight the need for stronger oversight. R431 million was spent on unnecessary classroom fumigations, and R82 million was wasted on the unusable Mayibuye primary school.
3. Raise Salaries for Educators and Curtail Union Power
The shortage of teachers, particularly in STEM subjects, coupled with low morale, is a significant issue. Over 50% of primary school pupils are in classes with over 40 learners, with teacher morale affected by concerns about the future of education, unsafe working conditions, and poor management. Raising teachers' salaries will help attract talent from the private sector, boosting teaching quality. In return, we propose curtailing the excessive influence of teacher unions, which often block necessary reforms.
4. Replace Life Orientation with a Mandatory Skills Subject
Life Orientation should be replaced with a new, examinable subject called Critical Thinking and General Knowledge. This would cover conceptual analysis, systems thinking, design thinking, political and moral philosophy, strategic thinking, and logic. Our education system currently ranks poorly in terms of critical thinking, and this shift is necessary to equip students for the challenges of the future.
5. Incentivize Students During the Academic Year
We propose financial incentives for top performances in STEM subjects, distributed periodically throughout the year via online tests. This would motivate students and allow for real-time tracking of teacher performance.
6. Prioritize the Primary Phase of Education
Currently, 78% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning. Early childhood education must be prioritized, with a focus on equipping Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres and involving the community in the education process. The success of a child's later education hinges on a strong foundation in the early years.
7. Introduce a School Voucher Programme
Introducing a school voucher programme will return the power to decide which school a child goes back to the learner’s parents. Parents have the most vested interest in the long-term education of their child. Parents care enough to conduct sensible due diligence which will unearth key information related to the performance of nearby schools.
This voucher, estimated at R15 000 per annum (based on the current government cost to educate each child), should be awarded directly to parents who will be given a choice as to whether to use it for payment at a nearby public school or, to add some of their own capital to the voucher in order to take their children to a private or semi-private school.
8. Expand Extended Programmes for Underperforming Learners
Extended programs allow learners to complete their curriculum over four years instead of three, giving struggling students more time to catch up. A post-matric year could also be offered to students needing further support, with free tuition provided by qualified teachers.
9. Reprioritize the Budget for Digital Learning and Infrastructure
Bridging the digital divide is essential for preparing students for the future of work. Currently, only 20.2% of schools have internet connectivity for teaching and learning, with only 36.4% of schools having computer centres. We propose ringfencing a portion of the education budget for a mass-scale rollout of broadband and computer centres.
10. Conduct a Nationwide Teacher Skills Audit
To improve teaching standards, we propose a nationwide skills audit of all teachers. Ensuring that every teacher is adequately equipped with the necessary skills is crucial to raising the standard of education across the country.
Conclusion
These interventions, grounded in accountability, transparency, and excellence, are crucial steps toward rescuing our education system. It is only when we create an environment where every South African child has equitable access to quality education, that we pave the way for a prosperous and thriving nation. In the interests of the 24 000 schools under its supervision and with 13 million learners in the system, it is time to build a resilient education system.
Issued by Roger Solomons, Acting Spokesperson, BOSA, 17 October 2024
