Media Alert: Minister Schafer to present the 2017/2018 Education Budget Speech

Tomorrow, Wednesday 29th March 2017, at 17h00, Minister Schäfer will be delivering the 2017/2018 Education Budget Vote speech in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament.

This budget speech will outline the budget priorities and allocations in the Western Cape Education Department for the 2017/2018 financial year and highlight the WCED's sustained improvement and progress in our three main indicators of success as outlined in our Strategic Plan, namely:

1.    An improvement in the level of language and mathematics in all schools
2.    An increase in the number and quality of passes in the National Senior Certificate, and
3.    An increase in the quality of education provision in poorer communities

While our primary objective is to provide quality education to all the learners in the Western Cape, our focus is primarily on learners in poorer communities. Minister Schäfer will be highlighting the pro-poor spend of the Western Cape Government, including additional funding for public schools serving poorer communities, increases in allocations for fee-paying schools covering the costs of poorer learners who are exempt from paying school fees, as well as  the increases in allocations in terms of school feeding, learner transport and school hostels.

Minister Schäfer will also be highlighting some of the new and innovative partnerships, projects and initiatives that we will be introducing or expanding this year.

Date: Wednesday 29th March 2017
Time: 16h45 for 17h00
Venue: Western Cape Provincial Parliament, Wale Street

Please allow for a reasonable amount of time for signing in.

All media are invited to attend.