Schools face financial challenges as classes resume for the second term

The Northern Cape Department of Education said it was aware of the financial challenges faced by schools as pupils returned to classes for the second term on Tuesday. Spokesperson for the Department of Education, Geoffrey van der Merwe, said some schools were struggling to settle municipal service accounts and hostel subsidies.

"Blinkklip High School was closed today due to outstanding payments from the department for matric interventions. Additionally, Rietfontein Combined School has informed parents that the hostel will remain closed until the school receives its allocation for hostel subsidies."

He stated that the department was prioritising the disbursement of norms and standard allocations to all public ordinary schools. "We are at the beginning of the new financial year and have engaged with Provincial Treasury to agree on a payment schedule and the disbursement process for schools. These allocations will be processed over the coming weeks."

He added that schools in the Namakwa and John Taolo Gaetsewe districts recently experienced heavy rainfall, resulting in inaccessible roads, power outages, and infrastructure damage. "Overall, school activities resumed smoothly across the province, with the exception of a few schools in the ZF Mgcawu district."

Van der Merwe urged all school communities to support pupils, as much work needed to be completed during the short term before the June examinations. "Every school day is essential, and teaching and learning must continue without any disruption," he advised.