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The IFP has slammed the Department of Basic Education and the Development
Bank of Southern Africa for their failure to spend the budget allocated to
them by Treasury in order to replace mud schools in South Africa.

IFP Spokesperson on Education, Mr Alfred Mpontshane said: " It is shameful
that schools in the Eastern Cape that are desperately in need of
infrastructure development will now have to wait for infrastructure as
monies to the sum of R7 Billion have been redirected by Treasury to other
projects. The reason for the redirect being principally due to the slow
spending by the Department of Basic Education. The Eastern Cape is currently
facing multiple challenges in education, namely, mud schools and dilapidated
infrastructure in existing schools. Now they face yet another challenge
namely, an inept department of Basic Education".

Mpontshane added that, " The failure by both the Department of Basic
Education and the Development Bank of Southern Africa clearly reveals their
basic lack of urgency and careless attitude about the plight of learners in
the Eastern Cape."

The IFP calls upon Treasury to return the money to the Department of Basic
Education for the initial assigned project to replace mud schools in rural
arrears. There should be a task team appointed to ensure that the money is
used accordingly for the project. The task team should oversee and monitor
the progress of this project. It's high time the Department of Basic
Education starts putting the children of this country first.