Thembisa Shologu
The Gauteng Department of Education budget is set to reposition the education system to be more resilient post the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This budget will assist us to immediately tackle all the challenges, especially those that were created by COVID-19 related matters, such as overcrowding, lack of infrastructure, sanitisation, and vandalism that we experienced during this particular period," MEC Panyaza Lesufi said.
He was presenting the R59.7 billion- 2022/23 budget at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on Tuesday, 24 May 2022.
The lion's share of the budget is allocated to the migration of Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres from the department of Social Development. 
Lesufi said the migration is a major achievement that will allow children to grow in an educational environment.
"From now on, children will no longer come to ECD centres to pray, sing, eat and sleep. They will now be given an opportunity to learn so that they can grow and become better citizens."
Lesufi welcomed the passing of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act which will formally integrate Grade R to formal education. 
Among others, the Act will see learners in Grade R automatically be accepted in Grade 1 of the school they attend while all Grade R practitioners will be required to acquire a minimum qualification and skills to teach. 
In the 2022/23 financial year, the department aims to register 400 Grade R practitioners for a Bachelor of Education Degree and 500 Pre-grade R practitioners for upskilling on ECD NQF Level 4.
The department aims to eliminate rotational school attendance and increased learning time for Grade 12s.
Furthermore, R1.7 billion has been set aside to complete at least five new schools by the end of the new financial year adding a further 400 refurbished smart classrooms.
 "We are also proud as the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG), we have identified almost five sites across the province to unveil what which we call 'ECDs of the Future' or 'Crèches of the Future'. These sites will be in Soshanguve, Bram Fischerville, Ratanda, Greater Tembisa and Bekkersdal", added Lesufi.
The Schools of Specialisation programme this year will focus on Tembisa Commerce and Entrepreneurship School. 
In line with the poverty alleviation programme, the department has allocated R1,5 billion for school nutrition, of which R484 million is from equitable share and caters for learners in Quintile 4 and 5 schools. 
School safety has emerged as a major area of concern in recent times. In this regard, Lesufi said the department will adopt and vigorously integrate psychosocial measures as well as strengthen the deployment of patrollers in schools across Gauteng.