/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The GOOD Party calls on the Western Cape government to prioritise education and save teacher posts.

Although the province achieved an improved pass rate of 86.6%, it remains below the national rate of 87.3%, with a provincial ranking of fifth place.

Despite its overall performance, the province did have successes.

Pinelands High boasted the top achiever of all public schools and all 3 of the country’s top achievers in the 5th quintile, schools that cater for the least poor 20% of learners, were from the Western Cape.

The sobering reality is that the Western Cape remains a province divided. Learners from less affluent schools, in less privileged areas, face the greatest barriers and the least resources.

This disparity will be compounded by the province’s looming teacher cuts, which threaten to deepen these inequities.

Reducing teaching staff will intensify overcrowded classrooms, limit subject offerings, and erode critical learner support, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable students.

Underprivileged areas, who already receive limited resources, will bear the brunt of the cuts. Areas like Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain will lose 142 and 176 teachers respectively. By contrast, Claremont will lose only 9 teachers and Constantia 3.

In an already strained education system, these cuts could cripple opportunities for future generations, making it even harder for schools in poorer communities to achieve parity with their wealthier counterparts.

GOOD, calls on Treasury to remove the province’s freedom to choose how they spend the education portion of the provincial equitable share, and make the education funding available as a conditional grant – that is, it can only be spent on education.

Currently, the Treasury calculates its allocations to provinces for education on the basis of the number of children at school (which forms part of the provincial equitable share) but leaves it in the hands of the provinces to spend the money wisely.

However, this policy is failing the youth of our country.

The Western Cape has earmarked R8 Billion of money it received for education on discretionary projects and then claims to be short of money for education, leading to the cutting of 2,400 teacher posts.

The GOOD party urges the Western Cape Government to abandon its teacher post reduction plan.

If the province fails to make the right decision, the right to make the decision should be taken away from it.

The time for decisive action is now. Without urgent intervention, we risk leaving countless students behind and undermining the promise of education as a tool for social and economic upliftment.

Issued by Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Parliament