The province needs R900 million per annum for non-personnel expenditure and for the department to function normally, i.e for normal repairs to be carried out. In 1998, the department was allocated R500 million and in 1999 it was cut to R200 million. In 1999, the department requested R20 million, but for the first time in three years, the department only managed to receive R5 million for 6 400 schools for maintenance and for emergency repairs. More funding is needed repair and renovate all the damaged schools in the province.