Provincial Education Funding Delays Put South African Schools at Risk

South African schools are facing a financial crisis due to mismanagement and delays in funding by provincial education departments. Only three of the nine provinces — Western Cape, Free State, and Limpopo — made the required payments to schools by the 15 May 2025 deadline. This leaves many schools struggling to cover basic expenses.

No-fee schools, which rely entirely on these payments, are hit hardest. With only R1,754 per learner per year (or R8.77 per day), they cannot meet even basic needs. Schools that charge fees also face challenges if parents don't pay or if departments fail to reimburse for fee exemptions.

FEDSAS CEO Dr. Jaco Deacon criticizes the government's failure to uphold children's constitutional right to education, highlighting a 33% failure rate among education departments. He calls for urgent action from Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, to hold officials accountable and ensure timely funding.

This ongoing issue underscores the need for a more effective and transparent education funding system to support schools and learners across the country.