The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) in KwaZulu-Natal has called on the provincial government to ensure that the R71 billion allocated to the Department of Education is used effectively to address critical challenges in schools.
The warning comes after Finance MEC Francois Rodgers presented the province’s R168 billion budget for 2026/27 in the legislature on Tuesday. Education received the largest share, rising from R66.7 billion last year to R71 billion this year.
While SADTU welcomed the increase, the union stressed that the funding must directly benefit learners and schools. Spokesperson Nomarashiya Caluza highlighted ongoing issues, including textbook shortages and inadequate school security.
“As we speak, schools do not have textbooks because they were not given permission to order them. Learners are already sharing textbooks in the third month of the academic year,” Caluza said.
She also raised concerns over school safety, noting that many institutions lack security personnel and that limited resources are often stolen during burglaries.
SADTU urged the provincial government to prioritise learners’ and teachers’ needs, ensuring that schools serve as safe environments for teaching and learning.