WCED says it has had few challenges with its expansion plans

CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) says while it has plans to build more schools to accommodate the influx of learners into the province, it has had a few challenges with its expansion plans.

The Department briefed the Provincial Standing Committee on Education on Tuesday on its Annual Performance Plan for 2025/2026 and its Strategic Plan.

The Western Cape currently has about 1,500 public schools and faces increasing demand for new schools and classrooms.

This is due to the influx of learners from other provinces due to migration.
The Western Cape Education Department has told the Provincial Standing Committee on Education that budget cuts, rapid population growth, and infrastructure constraints are some of the challenges hindering the rapid delivery of more schools in the Cape.

WCED's Salie Abrahams said the department is also aware of the inadequate distribution of schools between urban and rural areas.

"We acknowledge the deficit that we have to speed up and we have had confidence purely on the basis of we've delivered on our promises. I would like to use that as a measure of financial allocation for service delivery, then the services must be delivered."

He said they're also working with local municipalities to unlock land to build more schools.