EDUCATION WILL STILL GET THE LION'S SHARE

On the one hand, I am really glad to see that Education is seeing an increase in Government spending - on the other hand I am concerned about exactly who is going to get that money. Is it the teachers that really deserve it or the ones that we saw, behaving disgracefully as they toyi-toyied in the recent strikes.

Who are the people that we want teaching our children, the future leaders of our world called South Africa - I'm not so sure, that we have the right people, people who are passionate about what they do.

Don't get me wrong, I certainly do feel that teachers should be properly rewarded for the work that they do, but having said that - the recent strikes showed me that the 'teachers' that we do have in place (and I am talking generically now - there are many teachers out there who are passionate about what they do and did not participate, of that I am very sure), are not of the calibre that I would trust to bring out the best in the children.

After their shocking behaviour, I wonder how they expect us and the children to ever respect them again.

It makes me think! What about you?

Education will still get the lion's share

February 22, 2007

By Michael Hamlyn

Cape Town - Education is still the largest category of government spending, and over the next three years Trevor Manuel will continue to grow it by adding another R6 billion to hire additional teachers, teaching assistants and support staff, and to improve teachers' pay. This is in addition to the R2.1 billion already promised in the medium-term budget policy statement. "The many people who submitted suggestions to the Tips for Trevor campaign will be pleased to hear this," Manuel told parliament. He said that R700 million will be set aside for bursaries to encourage young people to enter the teaching profession. "This should benefit about 13 000 teachers over the next three years," he added. The no-fee schools are targeted to reach 40 percent of all pupils in this year.The department also receives a further R850 million to boost its adult basic education and training programmes, and R81 million goes to prepare examinations based on the new curriculum for grades 11 and 12. R87 million will be used to improve the appraisal and development of teacher performance.

A further R5.3 billion will go on more pay for health workers, and an increase in the numbers of staff. "We are budgeting to increase the number of health workers by about 30 000 over the next five years," Manuel explained. He also told the national assembly that the previous budget framework made provision for the treatment and care of about quarter of a million people who were ill with HIV/Aids."We are likely to reach that figure in the next few months," he said. "Health receives a further R12.7 billion for this programme, currently being delivered through 272 sites, allowing for a doubling of the uptake over three years." The hospital revitalisation programme receives another R1 billion, taking the total spend on that programme to R6.8 billion over the next three years. In addition, another R1 billion will be spent to upgrade tertiary services, in particular diagnostic equipment.