Matome Chiloane, Gauteng’s Education MEC, has pledged to protect the jobs of approximately 3,400 teachers in the province by reducing various educational activities amid an R4.5 billion budget deficit.
Chiloane made these statements while speaking at Bryanston High School on Sunday, offering an update on the department’s online admissions for next year.
He stated that the department’s budget deficit of R4.5 billion required them to find alternative means to fill school teaching positions.
He stated that, contrary to the Western Cape Department of Education’s reported stance of not filling 2,400 teacher positions, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) had to come up with alternative solutions to save public school teachers’ jobs due to the province’s growing student population.
“There is no way we can’t employ educators, because we will end up having more than 100 learners in one classroom per teacher, and that’s not what we want. We are not going to take that direction of the Western Cape.”
He said they will resort to slashing certain educational programmes, school transportation, school nutrition, learning and teaching support materials (LTSM) and others.
“We are cutting everywhere to make sure that we try to keep our educators.
“The budget cuts have put us as the department in a lot of pressure and strain. The pinch is there, we can’t lie,” said Chiloane.
Last month, the WCED said the cuts would be effective from January 1, 2025, due to budget constraints.
“We are in this position because we are being short-changed by the national government, receiving only 64% of the cost of the nationally negotiated wage agreement, leaving the province to fund the remaining 36%,” Western Cape MEC David Maynier said.
“Despite implementing a drastic R2.5 billion budget cut, including on administration, curriculum and infrastructure, we still face a R3.8 billion budget shortfall over the next three years. We are in an impossible position, and it is not of our making. And the Western Cape is not the only province affected.”
