Madam Chair, I was just waiting for you to direct me to do so. The next question was asked by the hon D Z Rantho in relation to the financial management support received from the national department.
The answer to that is yes, the Department of Basic Education, through the Directorate: Provincial Budget Monitoring and Support, provides financial management support to provincial education departments to assist with the strengthening of the financial management and control systems and the capacity that exist within the province. Three meetings are conducted with provincial education departments in each financial year. All the provincial education departments use these services without exception.
Secondly, yes, the department monitors the financial management, budget allocation in the MTEF period, expenditure performance, challenges facing the provincial education departments relating to the utilisation of the budget, and audit outcomes. Provincial education departments are offered assistance and advice on identified challenges.
Thirdly, yes, the provinces use the budgets as intended; however, there are areas where budgets are not used as intended due to cost pressures, for example in the case of compensation of employees. There are also other instances, for example where there has been recapitalisation of technical schools, and provinces have not been forthcoming in the utilisation of those budgets. These are drawn to the attention of the MECs in the Council of Education Ministers' meetings, one of which is taking place today. I thank you, hon Chair.