Maynier: “Teachers Cannot Be Saved”
Despite the allocation of over R800 million to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) as part of the province’s adjustment budget, Education MEC David Maynier asserts that it is insufficient to safeguard teacher positions.
The WCED has faced significant pressure to reconsider its decision to eliminate 2,407 teacher contract positions in January, attributing this to budget cuts imposed by the National Treasury on various departments.
On Tuesday, Finance MEC Deidré Baartman offered a glimmer of hope as she appeared to ease concerns while presenting the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement and the Adjustments Budget, which earmarked millions for the WCED.
“The Provincial Treasury is allocating R250 million to the Western Cape Education Department from the Provincial Revenue Fund to address their COE (Compensation of Employee) pressures.
“An additional R105 million in residual spending pressures will be managed through the expedited matching and placement of teachers.
“Moreover, the Provincial Treasury plans to unearmark R600 million from the provincial equitable share within the WCED’s infrastructure budget to allow for greater flexibility within the Department’s funding.
“Speaker, this means there will be sufficient funds within the Department’s budget to manage its current projected pressures,” Baartman explained.
Nevertheless, Maynier insisted that budget cuts remain a consideration, according to the Cape Times report.
“The residual budget pressure refers to the deficit following the reduction of 2,407 teaching positions. The extra allocation aimed at mitigating the remaining budget shortfall will not impact the reduction of posts. We will continue to advocate tirelessly for our teachers in the Western Cape,” stated Maynier.
GOOD Party Secretary-General Brett Herron expressed shock at the news that the teacher positions would not be preserved.
“In her inaugural Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, Finance MEC Deidré Baartman outlined how funds would be made available within the WCED’s budget to address ‘immediate teaching post pressures’. It remains unclear if this phrasing was a strategic attempt to placate critics or simply an unfortunate choice of words,” Herron remarked.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) in the region announced that they would convene with the WCED on Friday, while the provincial head of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa), Riedwaan Ahmed, indicated that consultations were necessary regarding how the WCED planned to allocate the funds.
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Daily Voice