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According to a quarterly performance progress report delivered to parliament’s Basic Education portfolio committee today, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has significantly under spent its budget for the 2010/2011 financial year. The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned about this state of affairs. The DBE reported that it has failed to spend R657 million of its total budget, a shortfall that threatens the viability of the department’s plans to improve the provision of basic education. The importance of a fully functional, properly administered DBE is critical to the creation of opportunities for future generations of South Africans.
The DBE, under the stewardship of Minister Angie Motshekga, has committed to making comprehensive changes to improve our beleaguered education system, but many of the department’s goals will remain out of reach without improved management of the department’s financial resources.
Key areas of underspending include:
• Curriculum Policy, Support and Monitoring – budget underspent by 45% 
• Goods and Services – budget underspent by 43% 
• Workbooks – budget underspent by 78% 
• National Assessments (Grades 3,6,9) – budget underspent by 89%
The extent of underspending on curriculum delivery will have a particularly negative effect on learner outcomes as it is the cornerstone on which any education system is built. The DA has raised the issue of provision workbooks in the past, and the low level of expenditure in this area remains a cause for concern. The DBE’s meagre expenditure on National Assessments is a deeply troubling sign, as regular assessments are essential to gauge the progress of learners, and the performance of our education system as a whole.
The DA will be submitting a series of parliamentary questions to Minister Motshekga to determine why the Department of Basic Education has failed to properly spend its budget, and what steps will be taken to improve the management of the department’s budget in the coming financial year.