During the 3rd South Africa/European Union (SA/EU) Summit today 28 September 2010 in Brussels, Belgium attended by His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, South Africa's Department of Basic Education received R1.7 billion rand from the European Union, to be used to improve primary education over the next three years.

The funds are part of the ongoing financial cooperation between South Africa and the European Commission. The handing over of the funds, and subsequent signing of the Primary Education Sector Policy Support Programme (ESP-SP) agreement, makes this the single largest ever development cooperation programme between the European Commission and the South African government.

The overall objective of the ESP-SP is to improve learner performance in literacy and numeracy at primary school level, in order to achieve better output to secondary and higher education and vocational training. The areas of support identified by both South Africa and the European Commission are in alignment with the South African government's approach and focus on outcomes.

The R1.7 billion will be used for expanding access to quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) opportunities especially for poor communities; strengthening the implementation of primary school curriculum particularly numeracy and literacy, and attracting appropriately qualified and competent teachers in all learning areas at all levels, with special focus on scarce skills.

The agreement was signed by South African Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and EU Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou.