Financial Concerns Over Bela Act Highlighted by AfriForum Following MTBPS

Following Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS), the advocacy group AfriForum has raised alarms over the financial impracticability of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act 32 of 2024 (Bela Act), shining a light on a brewing crisis in South Africa's education sector.

The MTBPS revealed no supplementary funding for education, which Minister Godongwana attributed to "self-inflicted" financial strains within departmental budgets. Historically, additional allocations for education have led to questions about spending efficacy. AfriForum sees this as a setup for a grim outcome—education departments may have to cut down on the number of teachers due to the inability to sustain their salaries.

The organization's Head of Cultural Affairs, Alana Bailey, highlighted the Western Cape Education Department's transparency about this impending issue. However, silence from other provincial departments fuels concern about their plans—or lack thereof—to address similar financial entanglements.

The operational changes implied by these potential budget cuts could include non-renewal of temporary teaching contracts or scrapping vital student services, such as literacy programs and transportation. AfriForum emphasizes that such a reduction in teacher numbers will escalate existing educational challenges, including impacting learners' ability to comprehend text—a critical skill for academic success.

The organization points out an apparent contradiction: while the Bela Act mandates compulsory education from Grade R onwards, which necessitates more teachers and infrastructure, the current financial trajectory suggests no room for such expansions. Consequently, AfriForum forebodes that if the Bela Act's provisions roll out under these conditions, the resulting quality of education will decline, ostensibly mortgaging the future of South African children.

Bailey calls for intensified scrutiny over budgeting and expenditures in national and provincial education departments. Moreover, she advocates holding officials accountable for financial mismanagement and advocates for an indefinite postponement of the Bela Act.

To rally public support and demonstrate collective displeasure, AfriForum, along with the Solidarity Movement, is preparing for a protest march against the Bela Act, particularly its contested schools' admission and language policies. The demonstration is slated for Tuesday, November 5, 2024, commencing at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria.

Individuals looking to partake in this civic action are invited to register online at www.belaprotes.co.za. The website also offers further details on the march, inviting active participation from across the public spectrum.