The education sector is given the highest allocation in the budget to a tune of $845 million.
While delivering the 2023-2024 National Budget yesterday, Minister for Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad said a lot of haphazard changes and reforms without consultation had caused major problems within the education system.
“The Coalition Government will relook at the overall education system in a consultative manner and we have already announced our plans for the appointment of an Education Commission and an Education Summit to take stock of the issues and challenges in the education sector and with proper dialogue and expert guidance chart a way forward for future reforms to lift the standard of education of our children,” Prof Prasad said.
“The world is experiencing another technological revolution with ChatGPT, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics – yet our children and what they currently learn, are out of step.” He said for this budget, the Ministry of Education was allocated $505.4m, an increase of $18.4m.
“The salaries and wages budget for the ministry has been increased from $318.1m to $322.6m to cater for the funding for more than 14,000 existing teachers and newly established 179 new teaching and non-teaching positions at the Ministry of Education.
“For qualification upgrade and step movement, $8.9m is allocated for salary upgrade of teachers who have completed relevant qualifications to move to a higher band in line with the Teacher Remuneration Setting Policy.
“For the rural and maritime location allowance, a sum of $5.7m is allocated which is an increase of $1.3m from this year’s allocation.
“Funding provided will cater for location allowances for 3355 teachers in 921 remote schools.”
