Since 2022 the Gauteng Education Department has slashed funding to schools of specialisation (SoS) from R69.29 million in 2022 to R13 017 200 in 2024, representing a decrease of 81.36%. This reduction hinders equipping learners with critical skills needed to grow the economy such as engineers, manufacturers, biotechnologists, scientists and specialists in different fields.
Furthermore, Schools of Specialisation also provide learners with skills such as tourism, hospitality, hairdressing, beauty and nail technology, maintenance, mechanics, and agriculture which can contribute to creating employment opportunities for the 34.4 % unemployed residents of Gauteng.
This information was provided by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) MEC, Matome Chiloane, in response to DA questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).
See full reply here.
The budget cuts push Schools of Specialisation into a desperate scramble for funding, while Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi claims that his government is successfully empowering youth for the future through these schools.
The DA Gauteng challenges the department’s decision to cut the budget and will raise this issue at the Gauteng Education Portfolio Committee.
The DA Gauteng-led provincial government would support schools of specialisation by adequately funding their core mandate of providing specialised subjects to generate the required specialised skills needed to grow the economy.