WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2008-03-07 Time: 00:00:00 Posted By: Jan
Considerable increases in the provincial education budget feature more spending on safety at schools and higher salaries for teachers.
Education and health received the biggest bites – although Education MEC Cameron Dugmore said on Tuesday education was facing “immediate pressures” in infrastructure costs.
He said although he welcomed the budget allocation, the department might have to ask the provincial treasury for funds earmarked for later expenditure.
The Western Cape Education department needs R4.5-billion if it is to meet all infrastructure needs. These include computer labs at schools, science labs, school halls, toilets, staff rooms and principals’ offices, among other things.
In her budget speech, Finance and Tourism MEC Lynne Brown said the education budget had grown by R1.3-billion to more than R9-billion in 2008/09, with expenditure of R29-billion over the next three years.
Brown said an increase in the Community Safety department’s budget allocation would also benefit schools .
“The department of Community Safety plans to scale up its Safer Schools intervention by deploying 750 Bambanani volunteers at 160 high-risk schools and further Bambanani volunteers at 45 Metrorail stations in and around the City of Cape Town and the Winelands.
“Over the next three years, the Safer Schools programme and Commuter Safety Programme have been allocated R47-million.”
The education budget includes money for salary improvements for teachers, teacher training and management skills as well as a focus on special needs schools.
“Additions to education also compensate for inflation and salary improvements for education personnel and provide for increased investment in school construction and maintenance,” Brown said.
She said expenditure on early childhood development would ensure greater success for pupils at schools.
“It has been proved that starting basic social, language and numeracy skills in the pre-school years significantly increases learners’ chances of succeeding at higher levels.
“Funding for early childhood development, including Grade R, increases by 37,6 percent, to R226.7-million.
“This will allow the department to accommodate 6 000 more Grade R learners a year in predominantly poor and rural communities and provide more support material, build schools and upgrade the skills of early childhood development practitioners.”
Provision has also been made for the Education Department’s cultural affairs and sport section to focus on its pre-school sports programme, which Brown says will help improve the motor skills of children early in life.
Brown said the budget for special school education in 2008/09 would be upped by 18,1 percent. Money has also been set aside for the nutrition programme that provides food to needy children at school.
About R69,8-million has been put aside for support materials from Grades 10 to 12 to give pupils “the best chance of succeeding with the … new curriculum”.