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The DA welcomes the announcement by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Education MEC, Mbali Frazer, that funds originally used for Covid-19 screening will be used to hire 500 qualified Grade R staff effective from the beginning of 2023.

The DA has long advocated this move. With the end of the pandemic several months ago - and no need for screening staff - there was a R450 million budget which we previously stated should be reallocated.

It was our strong view – both within the portfolio committee and publically - that this funding should be used to employ more teachers, fill critical departmental vacancies or address dire infrastructure conditions at schools.

Regrettably, the MEC’s predecessor ignored our earlier appeals. And now the MEC has made this proclamation as if she has split the atom, claiming victory for a move which is neither her idea nor her work.

Had the DA’s proposal been implemented when we first made the recommendation, the funds saved would have allowed the DoE to employ 860 level one educators on a permanent basis in addition to the 500 Grade R educators.

It is currently unclear why only the Grade R educators will be made permanent when they could have been retained within the system and a further 860 teachers added to address critical areas of need in higher grades. The DA will engage with the MEC and her Department at the next portfolio committee in a bid to clarify this.

The DA will continue to put solutions on the table in the hope that this ANC-run provincial government will take them up. We remain committed to our role as KZN’s only effective opposition.

Issued by Dr Imran Keeka, MPL - DA KZN Spokesperson on Education/DA KZN Legislature Chief Whip