Quality education is a joint effort - Mohai
08-MAR-10
Bloemfontein - The Free State Department of Education has been allocated R8.54 billion for this financial year, with other departments identified to help the department provide quality education.
MEC for Finance Seiso Mohai said the amount was an increase of half-a-billion on their current budget.
"This increases to R9.2 billion and R9.66 billion in the outer years of the MTEF. Cumulatively, the Department of Education receives an additional R1 billion over the MTEF," Mohai explained.
He said other departments will contribute to the achievement of quality education. He explained that he will deal with thorough allocations later but he highlighted some of their planned contributions.
The MEC announced that, The Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation will provide information and learning material at libraries as well as internet connectivity while the Department of Human Settlement will provide shelter for Educators in rural areas and the vulnerable.
The Department of Agriculture will establish school gardens and resuscitation of agricultural schools and the Department of Social Development will introduce mobile programmes for children in rural areas and informal settlements as their contribution to the Department of Education.
The Department of Police, Roads and Transport, said Mohai, will implement random search-and-seizure procedures; deal with taverns close to schools and acts of violence and sexual harassment. They will also provide access roads to schools and bicycles for farm and rural learners.
The Department of Public Works and Rural Development will be expected to establish Village School Gardens linked to food security, agriculture, health and education.
On the other hand, the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs will establish 30 co-operatives in schools for the Schools Nutrition Programme.
Mohai said there will also be other forms of interventions as resolved on by EXCO Lekgotla. - BuaNews
