South Africa's new Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, has outlined her key priorities for the department. Supported by Deputy Minister Dr. Reginah Mhaule, Gwarube is focused on improving literacy and numeracy, addressing infrastructure issues, and ensuring teacher safety and student well-being.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the new cabinet on Sunday, appointing Siviwe Gwarube from the Democratic Alliance (DA) as the Minister of Basic Education. The department has been allocated R324.5 billion for the 2024/25 financial year, although budget cuts of R2.8 billion over the medium term will affect various programmes, including school infrastructure.
Key Priorities: Literacy, Numeracy, and Infrastructure
Gwarube's main goals include enhancing literacy and numeracy among pupils and eliminating dangerous pit latrines in schools. The National Education Infrastructure Management System (NEIMS) 2021 report revealed significant gaps, with 90 schools in the Eastern Cape still without electricity and 5,167 schools relying on pit latrines.
Additionally, nearly 70% of schools lack library facilities, and over 58% lack computer centres.
The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2016 report showed that 78% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa could not read for understanding. Gwarube aims to address this by strengthening literacy and numeracy skills, highlighting the need for children to read for meaning.
We've got to look at literacy and numeracy in our schools and make sure that children and Learners can read for meaning.
Gwarube emphasised the importance of collaboration with stakeholders, including trade unions, to align on priorities such as learner well-being and teacher safety. While NAPTOSA welcomed her appointment and hoped for infrastructure improvements, SADTU expressed disappointment, criticising the DA's historical stance against the union and advocating for social justice and equitable education.
If our stakeholders, particularly our trade unions, if their priority is placing the learner at the centre of all that we do and of course placing the safety and the well-being of teachers as well then we're going to find each other.
Addressing the BELA Bill
Gwarube addressed concerns regarding the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, advocating for retaining beneficial aspects while addressing concerns about local authority empowerment. The bill aims to enhance oversight by education departments over schools, ensure fair implementation of school admissions and language policies, and address concerns about the erosion of School Governing Bodies' autonomy.
Gwarube believes in working together with stakeholders to benefit school learners, despite the DA's opposition to the bill.
I don't think it's wise to throw the entire bill out with the bath water. I think there are commendable aspects within the bill which we can keep but there are certain aspects which do disempower local authorities on certain aspects.
Looking ahead, Gwarube stressed the need for robust inter-ministerial collaboration to tackle pressing issues in schools. She highlighted the importance of strategic interventions to improve educational outcomes across the board.
