The Western Cape Department of Education will receive R35.1 billion in the 2026/27 financial year, the largest departmental budget in the province.
Minister of Education David Maynier presented the budget to the provincial parliament on Monday, outlining spending priorities focused on early learning, improving outcomes, expanding access and supporting learners with special needs.
The department will spend R102.9 million on strengthening early learning programmes. Recent results show Grade 3 mathematics pass rates have increased from 44.3% to 62% since 2021, whilst language pass rates improved from 36.9% to 51.2%.
New measures introduced this year include baseline assessments of literacy and numeracy skills for all Foundation Phase learners, reading fluency benchmarks, and a structured numeracy intervention programme with teacher training and resource kits.
The department has launched a Western Cape Reading and Literacy Strategy with the goal that every learner must be able to read for meaning by age 10.
An allocation of R191.1 million will support improving learning outcomes in Grades four through 12. The #BackOnTrack programme will provide extra classes to 34 200 learners in Grades four, seven, 10, 11 and 12. Additional training will be offered to 1 530 teachers, with an online “Just in Time” programme available to 3 100 teachers in Grades 11 and 12.
The programme will focus specifically on improving mathematics participation and outcomes, with extra classes for 4 000 learners each in Grades 10 and 11.
Maynier said the department will invest in revitalising technical schools, including upgrading workshops, modernising equipment and supporting teachers in technical subjects.
School infrastructure receives R2.7 billion, with the Rapid School Build programme aiming to deliver 280 classrooms in new and existing schools across the province. Ten new schools are expected to be ready for the start of the 2027 school year.
The new schools will incorporate green energy systems to reduce demand on the grid. The department will continue partnerships with local governments to coordinate planning and development.
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Support for learners with special education needs receives R2 billion. The Manenberg School of Skills, being completed with the Department of Infrastructure, will offer practical vocational education.
The department is allocating R78.3 million for expanding support to learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder and R77.2 million for learners with Profound and Intellectual Disabilities.
Funding has been allocated for up to 101 additional special needs teachers to increase support for learners requiring specialised assistance.
The Edu Invest initiative at Wesgro will receive R5 million to drive private and donor investment in education. In the 2025/26 financial year, the team facilitated R320 million in new independent school projects, mainly in low-fee and no-fee schools.
Apex Education Group recently committed to building 10 schools in 10 years, serving 10 000 learners from low-income communities.
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School safety will receive R72.7 million. The department said it will increase focus on improving school attendance, ensuring time on task and improving discipline.
Funding has been allocated for up to 701 additional teachers, including up to 600 teachers in public ordinary schools and up to 101 teachers in special needs schools. Some posts are already being filled.
Maynier said the department faces significant risks including admissions pressure, overcrowded classrooms, aging school infrastructure, unfunded mandates and the winding down of additional Budget Facility for Infrastructure funding.
More than 1.2 million children attend school in the Western Cape each weekday, with access to school meals and learner transport programmes where needed.
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