Education scores big in 2014 Budget

Education will receive a share of 20% (R254 billion) of government’s consolidated expenditure - higher than any other sector, the South African Government News Agency reported on Wednesday (26/02/14).

This trend, as seen in previous years, is also the case in Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's Budget Speech, this time around. The money will be used to increase access to schooling and improve infrastructure in schools, which serve nearly nine million South African children, Minister Gordhan said, adding that government will build 433 new schools over the next three years.

Post schooling education and training accounts for about 21% of the total education spending, with R21 billion set aside for university subsidies and R19 billion for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for bursaries and loans.

Provincial education departments also receive a big portion of the budget to pay teachers’ salaries

- SAnews.gov.za