R6.5 mil National Teacher Awards over-expenditure should have funded textbooks, desks and chairs
31 July 2015
In reply to a DA Parliamentary question, Minister Motshekga discloses that over R22 million was spent on the March 2015 National Teacher Awards (NTA) ceremony, held at Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg.
These awards recognise teachers whose ability and commitment makes a difference to the lives of thousands of young South Africans. This is a richly deserved recognition.
But an astonishing R6.5 million expenditure over and above the original approved budget for the event, is an unacceptably extravagant waste of state resources which resources South African schools desperately need instead. This over-expenditure could have bought approximately 23 600 maths textbooks, 43 000 school chairs or 11 200 school desks.
According to the Parliamentary reply, the money was spent on “build-up process” costs, including transportation, accommodation, adjudication training and provincial ceremonies.