1996 - National Treasury

2-12
• a differentiated general salary increase with effect
from 1 July 1995;
the extension of the night duty allowance and the
introduction of a uniform tariff with effect from 1 July
1995 to persons who perform night duty; and
• the extension of the Home Owner Allowance to
married women and single employees without
dependants with effect from 1 October 1995.
These improvements are regarded as phase one of a longer
term plan. Further phases will be dealt with following
investigations being conducted and negotiations in the
Central Chamber of the Public Service Bargaining Council.
2.6 SECTORAL POLICIES AND
PROGRAMMES
2.6.1 Social services
2.6.1.1 Education
General government expenditure on education amounted to
7,5 per cent of GDP 5 in 1993/94, up from 6,0 per cent in
1988/89. Pre-tertiary school and college education
comprised just over three-quarters of the total, almost
entirely financed from national government revenue. Of the
consolidated education spending by universities and
technikons of about 1,5 per cent of GDP, 56 per cent was
financed through transfers from the fiscus.
With nearly a quarter of general government non-interest
expenditure devoted to education, its priority in fiscal terms
is beyond doubt. An overview of institutional and policy
developments is set out below, indicating the reprioritisation
in progress within that portion of the country's resources
allocated to the education sector.
School and college education has now been organised into
new provincial departments, taking over the responsibilities
of former homeland and "own affairs" administrations.
University and technikon education is the responsibility of
the national Department of Education.
The quality of basic schooling, access to training and
vocational education opportunities and the breadth and
excellence of the higher education system are key
determinants of the pace and pattern of long-run growth and
income distribution, principally through their effects on
5 Including spending by universities and technikons
financed by fees, grants, investment income and other sources, but
excluding private spending on schools and colleges.
productivity and technical progress. South Africa has at its
disposal clusters of excellence in the labour force, alongside
low levels of skills and literacy amongst many workers and
workseekers. Human resource deficiencies hinder economic
growth and act as a brake on democratic participation and
initiative. A more equitable, efficient education system
geared to the needs of a modern society is a crucial
component in the Growth and Development Strategy.
Improvements in education are also pre-conditions for the
expansion and enhancement of training opportunities.
The Department of Education released a White Paper in
March 1995 which outlined several initiatives aimed at
transforming the education system. These include curriculum
reform, the development of a National Qualifications
Framework, establishment of a National Open Learning
Agency, new policies regarding the education learners with
special education needs and education support services, an
audit of teacher education, a recovery programme in
science, mathematics and technology, promotion of adult
basic education and training, and interventions in the fields
of further education and training and early childhood
development.
Considerable progress has since been made on these
initiatives. The South African Qualifications Authority Act
was passed in September 1995, establishing a body to be
responsible for developing the qualifications framework and
implementing it, including the registration of standards
authorities and accreditation bodies. New curriculum
proposals and policies regarding early childhood learning
have been formulated for discussion. An RDP-supported
culture of learning programme has accelerated the
refurbishing of schools and promoted community
responsibility through the development of governance
structures. A register of schools' needs is being compiled,
which will place the capacity for systematic planning of
school renovations, rebuilding or extensions in the hands of
provincial departments.
Schooling
Total school enrolment in 1994 was 11,8 million, of whom 98
per cent were enrolled in public ordinary schools. School
enrolment now slightly exceeds the twelve-year school-age
population and the annual growth in total enrolment has
begun to slow down, but high rates of repetition, widespread
absenteeism and poor examination performance reflect
deep-seated problems of quality in much of the system. Of
the total outflow from the school system of about 750 000
currently, 40 per cent leave with a senior certificate, of
whom just under one-third obtain a matriculation exemption
pass.