More than R4 million has been rolled over to Dinaledi schools in Limpopo, after the province failed to spend more than half of its budget in the 2012/2013 financial year.
The recent adjusted estimates of national expenditure report shows Dinaledi schools in Limpopo will receive a R4.067 million rollover from last year's budget allocation, after the province's funds were withheld due to its under-spending. The Department of Basic Education this year allocated R105.1 million to Dinaledi schools - a R5.4 million increase from the 2012/2013 financial year.
Millions were underspent by Dinaledi schools across the country last year, with Limpopo being the province of most concern. An expenditure report on the Dinaledi schools grant, for the third quarter of 2012/13, shows Limpopo's actual payments were 39.8% of the total payments due. Earlier this year, David Silman, director of the Department of Education (DOE) Dinaledi Unit, noted these figures look significantly different when looking at the fourth quarter report, but this is not yet available.
Silman previously said funds were withheld from Limpopo, because the province was not spending. However, he noted there are a number of factors at play when it comes to provinces under-spending, including non-delivery by suppliers.
He was unable to comment at time of publication on what suppliers he was referring to, or provide details as to what the funds will be used for.
Worrying performance
Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee of Science and Technology noted in its most recent meeting that the Department of Science and Technology and the departments of education need to address the low rates of academic achievement in mathematics and science, as well as assess the support and impact of the Dinaledi schools.
The maths and science marks from Dinaledi schools in 2012 were approximately 8% higher than the national average. The national matric mathematics pass rate in 2012 was 54%, up from 46.3% the previous year, with physical science rising to 61.3%, from 53.4% in 2011.
Silman pointed out that although the Dinaledi schools showed a better performance than the national average, there is a major deficiency in the execution and management of the Dinaledi grant, with little done in baseline assessment to see where teachers were in terms of their content knowledge.
"The difference between the national averages and the averages generated by schools in the Dinaledi programme is nowhere near commensurate with the amount of money spent." A specific number has not been set as a target for 2013, but Silman hopes to see an annual compound increase of 5% in both participation and passes.
In August, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of education Annette Lovemore revealed in a press statement that 223 out of 492 Dinaledi schools are without Internet connectivity, contributing to the national statistic of only 18% of schools being ICT-connected.
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