DBE 2025/26 Annual Performance Plan; DBE Anti-Bullying Strategy, with Minister

Video 2025/26 Annual Performance Plans The Minister noted the Department's ongoing support to schools affected by recent natural disasters, particularly in the Eastern Cape, including the provision of psychosocial support to learners and educators. In her overview of the Annual Performance Plan (APP), she acknowledged operating under strict budgetary limitations. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) presented the revised 2025/26 APP due to the newly introduced fiscal framework. The Minister indicated that the overall budget remained unchanged, but minor technical adjustments were made to some performance indicators. New performance indicators were introduced in Mathematics and Science, and the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) was reaffirmed as a key intervention for youth employment. Due to budget limitations, targets for training foundation phase teachers in literacy and numeracy were revised downward. The CFO confirmed there were no changes to the overall financial allocation. The DBE Director for School Safety presented the anti-bullying strategy, which promotes a zero-tolerance stance on all forms of bullying, including cyber and homophobic bullying. The strategy focuses on early intervention, enhancing school-based support teams, and implementing strong codes of conduct. Collaborative efforts with the Institute for Security Studies and the Film and Publication Board were also outlined. Committee members expressed appreciation for the strategy but raised concerns about the slow pace of enforcement, the absence of a centralised incident tracking database, and the need for urgent support mechanisms for victims. The Minister addressed concerns about the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, clarifying that the Act had already been signed into law and was therefore in effect. She stressed that delays in implementation were not political but stemmed from the complexity of drafting regulations in consultation with the Chief State Law Adviser. She assured Members that these regulations would be released for public comment by the end of June 2025 and reiterated that interim guidelines had been provided to provinces. Members raised concerns about delays in regulations affecting language and admission policies, while Ms Maimela stressed the urgency of full implementation as schools were already processing 2025 admissions. The Minister confirmed that provincial heads could be invited to provide updates on the review of school language policies. One Member accused the Department of stalling implementation for political reasons, which the Minister firmly denied.