Gauteng allocates R4 billion for school construction amid R35bn funding gap

The Gauteng Education Department has set aside almost R4 billion for the construction of schools over the next three years.

The project is aimed at alleviating the pressure on public schools in the province following multiple complaints of overcrowding.

However, the department says it requires approximately R35 billion to get out of the red, which amounts to half of its annual budget.

Gauteng currently has around 2,100 public schools, but they have become insufficient to accommodate the growing number of primary and high school learners. Statistics show that 48% of schools in the province are overcrowded, with the growth in teacher numbers failing to match the rising enrolment of pupils.

READ: Maile says Gauteng Education Dept needs R35bn to address overcrowding crisis

Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile said nearly R4 billion has been allocated for school construction, although this will only scratch the surface of the province's requirements. The MEC detailed the financial breakdown and the scope of the project over the coming years.

"The total budget for both new and replacement schools over the Medium-term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) amounts to R3.982 billion, which allows for the construction of approximately seven new schools each year and 23 in total over the MTEF. Within this period, R1.950 billion is allocated specifically for new schools, whereas the budget for replacement schools stands at R1.860 billion."

In an effort to meet these infrastructure goals, the province is working closely with the Development Bank of Southern Africa to facilitate the construction of these new educational facilities.