The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) fiercely criticised the Gauteng Education Department’s scandalous failure to pay subsidies to various schools, demanding that the matter be resolved at once.
This criticism was voiced during the province’s 2026/27 budget debate after numerous public schools complained that they have not yet received the promised subsidies. Some schools have received only a small portion thereof.
It is an utter disgrace that the Education Department receives the largest share of the provincial budget, yet is still unable to meet its financial obligations to schools.
The first instalment of the annual provincial subsidy was supposed to be paid in May already. The next payment window is November. Seeing as quintile 1 to 3 schools are wholly dependent on these subsidies, they will likely not make it to November.
Given that many schools in the higher quintiles are also under severe financial strain, an even larger number of schools could collapse if the subsidies are not paid immediately.
This failure points to extremely poor financial management and planning by the Department of Education. Moreover, this crisis is unfolding against the backdrop of the drastic reduction in subsidies to quintile 5 schools.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the Education Department is gradually losing its ability to provide public schools with proper services; while the backlog in the construction of new schools continues to grow, unfairly placing additional pressure on existing schools.
It is also evident that the Education Department is being targeted for cost savings to plug holes in other departments, to the detriment of public schools in Gauteng — as seen in the reduction of subsidies for quintile 5 schools.
The time is ripe for an independent audit of the Department of Education followed by an overhaul so it can achieve more with less. Costs should be cut within the Education Department, on central and district levels, to unlock funds for schools, restore subsidies and facilitate the construction of new schools.
The Freedom Front Plus will raise these issues with the MEC for Education, Lebogang Maile, and demand answers.
Schools that have not received any or only partial subsidies are encouraged to contact the Freedom Front Plus so that the matter can be taken up with the MEC and the Department.
