The National Catholic Board of Education (NCBE) has welcomed the increase in the 2025 education budget but cautioned that deeper issues in the education system remain unresolved.

In a statement signed by the NCBE Communications Lead, Cullen Mackenzie, the board praised the government for increasing the Basic Education budget from R325 billion to R347 billion—a 6.7% nominal rise that translates to a 2.6% real increase after inflation.

“This marks the most substantial basic education increase in recent years,” the statement reads, while also pointing out that this follows “a decade of underfunding during which per-learner expenditure has declined in real terms.”

The NCBE highlights that per-learner government spending will increase from R24,230.58 in 2024/25 to R25,669.53 in 2025/26. However, once adjusted for inflation, this is effectively a reduction to R23,755.34—underscoring what the board calls the “continued erosion of real investment.”

In the statement shared with the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) communication office, the NCBE states that it welcomes increased infrastructure funding, noting that “the direct infrastructure allocations to provinces receive a 4.9% real increase, totaling R15.2 billion for 2025/26 – a vital investment for renovating and expanding educational facilities.”

The NCBE has also expressed concern about the phasing out of the School Infrastructure Backlogs Grant (SIBG), calling its continued decline troubling. “It is concerning that… the underperforming School Infrastructure Backlogs Grant continues to decline and will be incorporated into the Education Infrastructure Grant after 2025/26,” the NCBE says.

In the statement, the board reiterates ongoing concern over overcrowded classrooms and staffing shortages. “Our concerns persist regarding classroom overcrowding and staff shortages caused by the freezing of vacant positions. The budget allocation for staff and teacher development remains insufficient to achieve meaningful change.”

The NCBE criticized provincial education departments for what it described as corruption and inefficiency. “The challenge in the government’s commitment to Basic Education extends beyond budget allocation to ensuring that funds actually reach schools on the ground,” the statement says. “We are particularly concerned about corruption, incompetence, and inefficiencies… that contribute to chronic underspending and the delays in the disbursement of funds to schools.”

The board specifically highlighted the impact of these shortcomings on vulnerable schools: “No-fee and low-fee educational institutions suffer most from these inefficiencies.”

The NCBE called on government to urgently “strengthen provincial capacity and accountability by addressing chronic underspending and corruption through improved planning, procurement, and implementation support, while enforcing consequence management and accountability for incompetence and corruption.”

In conclusion, the NCBE emphasized the need for education to foster holistic development: “What we need in our country is integral human development, and this begins with government, private sector and the church investing more resources to an integral quality education—an education that develops the whole person and benefits all citizens.”

The board reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Department of Basic Education to make quality education accessible to all, “advancing the common good and human dignity.”