budget speech where he allocated R165-billion to education. The

breakdown of the budget indicates that Basic Education will get the biggest

piece of the pie with R127-billion; with higher education and training

receiving R23,3-billion.

"We welcome the fact that education continues to be our government's number

one priority," said the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) in

a statement. The union praised Gordhan for "including

occupation-specific dispensation (OSD) in his budget". Gordhan has allocated

an additional R9-billion over the next three years for

teachers salary upgrades. In the past three years civil servants, including

teachers, embarked on prolonged strike action, bringing the sector to a

complete halt.

Sadtu also praised the minister for injecting R12-billion into Further

Education and Training (FET) colleges over the next three years. The

colleges will move from the provinces to the national department of higher

education. "This will ensure uniformity in spending priorities across all

nine provinces which will lead to better and improved running of these

institutions," the Sadtu statement said. The union

also welcomed the R1,3-billion allocated towards improving salaries of FET

college lecturers, "although it is not clear how much this will translate to

an individual educator".

While welcoming R2,7-billion for the roll-out of workbooks in all eleven

official languages to help boost numeracy levels in grades three, six and

nine, Sadtu advised that this should be implemented as a matter of urgency.

It expressed disappointment that the budget report was mum on the re-opening

of teachers' colleges.

Ezrah Ramasehla, president of the National Professional Teachers'

Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa), also welcomed Gordhan's

announcement, saying "in spite of financial constraints, education remains

the largest item in the budget". Ramasehla also welcomed the R2,7-billion

earmarked for workbooks to improve literacy and numeracy as well as help

implement the national testing programme at grades three, six and nine.

But he warned that the "start up costs for the new department of higher

education and training are likely to be high and it is not clear whether

this has been factored into the budget". Ramasehla also commended

Gordhan's R12-billion allocation to FET colleges because they are well

"situated to begin to provide relevant and appropriate skills development

programmes". However, "Naptosa remains unconvinced that the so-called

"vocational" programmes currently on offer will fulfill this particular

need", said Ramasehla.

Budget Figures

• R12-billion for FET colleges

• R9-billion for OSD

• R1,3-billion to FET college educators

• R2,7-billion for the roll-out of workbooks

• R17,5-billion for higher education institutions