Have we now made the move that'll set the wheels in motion and lead the country further and further up the economic ladder?
Maybe.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced during his budget speech that R189,5 billion would be allocated to education, while the main goal of the budget would remain job creation.
The importance of investment in education, skills development and training seems to be the focus this year, which is great news for a country where literacy levels are quite sad and employment is as hard to find as the pot of gold under the rainbow.
But with the introduction of the new budget this all looks set to change. Mr Gordhan said of the total R189,5 billion being spent on education, R154,5 billion would go towards basic education.
The budget review document sums it up when it states that "education is key to sustaining long-term growth."
In other words:
If we don't have the opportunity to continuously learn we can never grow. This applies to all corners of life.
This is why Gordhan has allocated an extra R24,3 billion to the training of teachers in South Africa, improving the quality of education and supplying vital skills development to ensure our educators are well equipped to nurture our youth.
And while the budget may not have been perfect (especially if you're a tax payer, and who're we kidding - we're all tax payers) at least the focus is in the right place.
The only issue now is whether the people charged with distributing these funds are capable of doing the job. Honestly.
Actually, maybe that's where the training should have started?
Because, sadly, if the management is incapable (and it often is) of handling the money, or corrupt (as we know they can be), then these funds will do nothing more than circulate around the fat cats in government.
And that's no good.
(c)Matt Wood
Staff Training
Real Solutions for Real People
Matt is employed by Staff Training, a soft skills training company dealing with these topics and issues on a daily basis. You are welcome to re-use and/or re-publish this article, but please ensure that this final acknowledgment paragraph and link accompanies it. Thank you! The Staff Training team.
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