DBE Quarter 2 2024/25 Performance; DBE BRRR; with Minister

Video The Portfolio Committee met to hear the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE's) second quarterly performance report for the 2024/25 financial year. The meeting also considered the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report, the oversight and monitoring visit report for the Northern Cape and Western Cape, and draft minutes from earlier meetings. The Minister reflected on the Department’s efforts to enhance education outcomes, and emphasised its reliance on provincial education departments for implementing national policies. She welcomed the budget increase from the medium-term budget policy statement, but highlighted persistent fiscal challenges that restricted systemic improvements. She acknowledged the Department’s targeted support to provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and stressed its commitment to ensuring quality education despite resource constraints. The Director-General presented the performance report, highlighting that the Department had achieved all its second quarter targets, maintaining its 100% success rate from the previous year. Key achievements included progress in Early Childhood Development (ECD), the piloting of coding and robotics, and teacher training initiatives. However, infrastructure delivery had faced significant delays, particularly in school construction and sanitation improvements. Financially, the DBE had spent 59.4% of its annual budget, with variances attributed to delayed projects and accelerated spending in specific areas. Committee Members raised concerns over the Department's challenges. Questions centred on the incomplete delivery of home language workbooks, mathematics materials, and Grade R resources, with one Member asking for measures to meet these targets. Delays in registering and funding ECD centres, including prolonged non-payment issues, were also criticised. Infrastructure concerns dominated discussions, with Members expressing dissatisfaction over the slow pace of school construction, the continued use of pit latrines, and the underutilisation of conditional grants. Responding to these concerns, the Minister and senior officials provided detailed explanations. On workbook distribution, officials clarified that deliveries were staggered to mitigate risks of vandalism and theft, and assured Members that outstanding materials would be delivered promptly. The Department acknowledged non-payment issues in ECD facilities, and committed to addressing them through improved compliance mechanisms. Regarding infrastructure, the Minister reaffirmed plans to accelerate projects in the remaining quarters, prioritising sanitation targets. She also addressed concerns about examination costs raised in the media, offering a detailed breakdown and discussing plans to digitalise printing processes to improve efficiency. The Chairperson commended the Department for its responses, but stressed the urgency of addressing infrastructure delays and ensuring timely delivery of learning materials. The Committee adopted the draft reports and minutes.