Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says the learner population has increased by around 300 000 in the past five years.
Gwarube briefed the media on the impact that the budget cuts on the education sector at a provincial level.
This follows the recent special council of education ministers’ meetings held to discuss pressing sectoral matters including budget cuts.
Gwarube says the budget cuts have led to an increase in the teacher-learner ratio.
She says, “Nationally, the number of learners within the education system has increased by approximately 292 000 over the last five years and as a result, learner and teacher ratios are steadily increasing across the provinces.
“It is important to retain a manageable learner and educator ratio because that means that we can ensure that the quality of outcomes is looked after.
“Once your ratios are big and class sizes are bigger, we are unable to guarantee that we have the same amount of outcomes that we need,” said Gwarube.
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