Should South Africa’s Education Budget Prioritise Learning Over Infrastructure?

South Africa’s education sector received a R332.3 billion allocation in the 2025 budget, reaffirming the government’s commitment to schooling. However, with rising pupil enrolments, worsening unemployment, and cuts to international funding, experts are calling for a shift in priorities—from infrastructure expansion to improving student learning outcomes. Education analyst Dr Corrin Varady, CEO of Idea, argues that smarter spending, not just more funding, is the key to transforming the sector.

The Challenge of Budget Constraints

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s decision to reduce the planned VAT increase from 2% to 0.5% in 2025/26—with a further 0.5% cut the following year—has tightened the available funding for education. “Cuts to U.S. funding in other sectors have further strained the education budget,” Varady noted. This financial pressure comes at a time when South Africa’s education system is already grappling with inefficiencies and poor learning outcomes.

Learning Outcomes vs. Infrastructure

Despite having one of the world’s largest education budgets, South Africa continues to struggle with spending inefficiencies. Varady emphasized that financial accountability is critical to ensuring meaningful improvements. “Without strong checks and balances, inefficiencies continue to undermine progress,” he said.

Varady argues that the focus should shift from building classrooms to delivering measurable learning outcomes. “Investment in education must go beyond infrastructure to prioritise student learning. Unfortunately, the current system often treats students as an afterthought,” he explained. He called for provincial education departments to be held accountable for results, particularly in areas like teacher development, literacy, and numeracy programmes.

“Progress in student services, teacher development, and literacy and numeracy programmes should be scrutinised against expenditure. Without tangible improvements, discussions about budget expansions are irrelevant,” Varady said.

Smarter Spending Over Additional Funding

Rather than seeking additional funding for new projects, Varady advocates for maximising existing resources. “We must rethink budget allocations to deliver cost-efficient programmes, especially in teacher training and student content,” he said. He also highlighted the importance of digital learning as South Africa aims to equip students with Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills.

“However, without innovative and resource-efficient implementation, these goals risk remaining aspirational rather than actionable,” Varady cautioned. Digital learning initiatives, while promising, require careful planning and execution to ensure they deliver real value.

The Role of Public-Private Collaboration

Varady stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to maximise the impact of available resources. “Fragmented provincial spending and opaque procurement processes have created mistrust, discouraging private sector involvement,” he said. If the government can ensure financial stability and sustainable programme implementation, private sector innovation could complement public education with high-impact, cost-effective solutions.

A Call for Urgent Reform

Varady concluded by calling for urgent reform in how education budgets are allocated and spent. “Departments can no longer afford to continue as they have. Instead of fixating on funding limitations and stagnant educational outcomes, we must reassess how we allocate resources. The time for excuses is over—accountable, efficient spending is the only way forward,” he said.

South Africa’s R332.3 billion education budget presents both an opportunity and a challenge. While infrastructure development is important, experts like Dr Corrin Varady argue that prioritising student learning outcomes and smarter spending is essential for long-term success. By holding provincial departments accountable, investing in teacher development, and embracing digital learning, South Africa can transform its education system and better prepare students for the future. The time for reform is now.

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