Brown announced the department has been allocated R17.558 billion in 2023/24, R17.339 billion in 2024/25, and R18.074 billion in the outer financial year. 

While tabling her 29-page budget speech, she announced that over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period ahead, a total of R52.971 billion is allocated to the department.

The Department of Education in the Free State has been a flagship department, producing the best grade 12 results in South Africa, with matriculants having an over 80% pass rate for four consecutive years. 

In 2022, under the leadership of the late Education MEC, Tate Makgoe, matric pupils achieved a pass rate of 88.5%, an increase of 2.8% from 2021.

'Education determines economic growth, employment'

Brown said in her budget speech that education is a fundamental factor in development as it determines economic growth, employment, and earnings. "In addition, it plays a crucial role in securing economic and social progress and improving income distribution."

An additional R1.099 billion in equitable share funding over the MTEF period was also allocated to assist in addressing pressures relating to employee compensation.

Furthermore, an earmarked allocation of R394 million for 2023/24 is allocated for the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI). 

"Please allow me to extend my congratulations once again to the late MEC Tate Makgoe and the department on achieving 88.5% pass rate in the 2022 matric results," Brown added. 

Health Department allocated R39.847 billion

The department of the newly appointed MEC for Health, Nokwanje Leeto, will over at least three years spend more than R39.847 billion. 

Brown explained the allocation as follows: R12.759 billion in 2023/24, R13.286 billion in 2024/25 and R13.802 billion in 2025/26. 

"Included in the above allocations is an amount of R1.293 billion, specifically provided over the MTEF period to cater for sector pressures, namely the compensation of employees, medicine, service backlogs, which include anti-retroviral therapy or treatment, tuberculosis and other goods and services pressures. 

Healthcare services remain a bedrock for the eradication of extreme poverty and economic growth. A government that ignores the health needs of its nation cannot produce a healthy labour force nor expect prosperity," Brown added. 

The MTEF sets out three-year spending plans for the national and provincial governments. It aims to ensure that budgets reflect the government's social and economic priorities and give substance to the government's reconstruction and development commitments. 

To read more about the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, click here. 

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