JOHANNESBURG - The Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (Fedsas) has criticised a Department of Basic Education review of state subsidies and called for justification for the decision.
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Fedsas reports that 750 public schools in Gauteng have experienced a sudden reduction of over 60-percent in their state subsidies.
Steve Mabona, spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Education, discussed this with eNCA.
Mabona said the program forms part of a gazetted Department review.
"We are reviewing the subsidy allocation that we are sending to our schools. The quintile five [schools] have been receiving more than what they're supposed to be receiving as per the policy," he said.
Quintile 5 schools cater for the least poor 20% of learners and are categorised as "fee-paying" schools.
Mabona continued, "Fedsas were not saying it was maladministration when we were giving them more than what was required as per the gazetted policy."
"Because of our financial challenges that we have pronounced on many occasions, we are reviewing most of the responsibilities, the allocations that we send to schools across the board," he said.
Mabona said internal stakeholders in the education sector are being engaged throughout the process.