R12.5bn boost for education: "R12.5bn boost for education
19/05/2006 11:54 - (SA)

Cape Town - Education Minister Naledi Pandor on Friday outlined a number of initiatives to deliver the final 'blow of death' to the legacies of apartheid education.

Speaking in the national assembly during debate on her budget vote, she said the problem of thousands of poorly performing schools had to be addressed decisively.

Over the next five years there would be a significant resource input to provinces to support a well-crafted, targeted, quality improvement and development strategy (QIDS), at an estimated cost of R12.5bn.

Initial funding was available in this year's budget.

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'It will be a focused response to the disadvantages caused by apartheid education,' Pandor said.
The strategy would begin with identifying 5000 low-performing schools in the least able districts, which would be provided with education support in the form of libraries, laboratories and teaching materials.

Teachers would be supported through high-quality, school-based education development programmes and strengthened district development teams. "