Budget cuts to impact free education
Education permanent secretary Sanet Steenkamp says that there will definitely be an impact on basic free education in Namibia, following the recent budget cuts that were announced last year by the finance ministry.
Steenkamp told Namibian Sun that currently, the ministry cannot elaborate on what the extent of these will be as budget allocations are only expected at the end of January and only then will they be able to know the true extent of the situation.
She explained that although the ministry had a meeting with the finance ministry in December it will only be certain by the end of this month when budget allocations are made what priority areas are truly affected and by how much. However, she did confirm that the education grant will also be impacted.
“There will certainly be an impact and therefore we are appealing that parents should meet us halfway.”
Steenkamp further explained that the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has also been affected by the directive from the finance ministry issued to all government offices, ministries and agencies to review their expenditure.
Therefore, following this directive, the ministry has revised both its operational and capital components of the budget by reducing consumption expenditure mainly, daily subsistence allowances (DSA), overtime and other expenditures of operational nature.
She said on the capital development side the ministry suspended the construction of all planned office buildings and other construction such as libraries, community development centres, national monuments and so on.
“Inevitably, this has resulted in the reduced scope of work as per our annual management plan 2016/17 and as a result, it will impact negatively on service delivery as it related to the provision of teaching and learning and the general delivery of education and the promotion of arts and culture,” said Steenkamp
According to her curriculum reform implementation is another area affected by the budget cuts in terms of the required physical education facilities countrywide and the procurement of services and technical educational tools and facilities required by different schools.
Steenkamp said in order to mitigate the impact of the said budget revisions, the ministry is engaging with the ministries of finance, works and transport and the National Planning Commission (NPC) on strategies to minimise the impact of the budget cuts on both operational and capital activities.
ELLANIE SMIT
Steenkamp told Namibian Sun that currently, the ministry cannot elaborate on what the extent of these will be as budget allocations are only expected at the end of January and only then will they be able to know the true extent of the situation.
She explained that although the ministry had a meeting with the finance ministry in December it will only be certain by the end of this month when budget allocations are made what priority areas are truly affected and by how much. However, she did confirm that the education grant will also be impacted.
“There will certainly be an impact and therefore we are appealing that parents should meet us halfway.”
Steenkamp further explained that the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has also been affected by the directive from the finance ministry issued to all government offices, ministries and agencies to review their expenditure.
Therefore, following this directive, the ministry has revised both its operational and capital components of the budget by reducing consumption expenditure mainly, daily subsistence allowances (DSA), overtime and other expenditures of operational nature.
She said on the capital development side the ministry suspended the construction of all planned office buildings and other construction such as libraries, community development centres, national monuments and so on.
“Inevitably, this has resulted in the reduced scope of work as per our annual management plan 2016/17 and as a result, it will impact negatively on service delivery as it related to the provision of teaching and learning and the general delivery of education and the promotion of arts and culture,” said Steenkamp
According to her curriculum reform implementation is another area affected by the budget cuts in terms of the required physical education facilities countrywide and the procurement of services and technical educational tools and facilities required by different schools.
Steenkamp said in order to mitigate the impact of the said budget revisions, the ministry is engaging with the ministries of finance, works and transport and the National Planning Commission (NPC) on strategies to minimise the impact of the budget cuts on both operational and capital activities.
ELLANIE SMIT
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