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Overview of the Provincial Revenue and Expenditure (OPRE %u2013 2025/26)Access to Quality Basic Education Over the 2025 MTEF, the Eastern Cape Provincial Government (ECPG) will continue to prioritize education as one of the two apex priority sectors which constitute the bulk of provincial public expenditure. The revised Education System Transformation Plan (ESTP) focuses on capacity building, skills development, inclusive education and social cohesion and Infrastructure highlights the importance of the sector and coordination with other stakeholders for success. As such, the ECPG has allocated the education sector with R44.636 billion in 2025/26, R46.160 billion in 2026/27 and R48.190 billion in the 2027/28 financial years. Furthermore, the education sector has tasked with delivering on inclusive early childhood development (ECD) and learner attainment as the two cluster priorities over the 2025 medium term. Inclusive Early Childhood Development (ECD): The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act 32 of 2024 is intended as a mechanism to reduce inequality, build inclusiveness and improve the quality of education for all learners. Every child within the borders of South Africa has a right to basic education. The term basic education means %u2018%u2018includes Grade R to Grade 12%u201d (Bela Act, 2024). This effectively translates into Grade R being compulsory for all learners in South Africa moving forward. For the 2025 MTEF period, the ECPG will strive to increase universal availability of comprehensive age, and stage-appropriate quality Early Childhood Development services. There will, furthermore, be an increased drive to ensure that there is mass registration of ECDs and that there is professionalization of Grade R-practitioners through increased training and teacher development. The ECD sector will be funded and supported by the provincial Department of Education through an allocation of R3.903 billion over the 2025 MTEF which includes an allocation of R1.229 billion for the 2025/26 financial year. Learner Attainment for Improved Educational Outcomes: The provincial Department of Education will continue to enhance learner attainment in the province through prioritizing school and classroom resourcing as per education norms and standards transfer to schools. Budgets for the provision of adequate and timeous Learner Teacher Support Material in the form of procured textbooks and stationery for Quintile 1-3 ordinary schools has been set at R3.098 billion over the 2025 MTEF inclusive of an allocation of R819.118 million in the 2025/26 financial year. E-Learning: continues to be a commitment of the provincial government to expand access toquality basic education for all learners in the province. This commitment has been rolled outthrough improvements in school connectivity, broadband access, e-library, and other digital andtechnological e-learning solutions. The E-Learning, ICT and Laptop initiatives (including theprovision of data) are allocated resources amounting to R834.956 million in the 2025 MTEFinclusive of an allocation of R266.162 million in the 2025/26 financial year.Teacher Development: is critical for the delivery of quality basic education and improved learning outcomes. The province will allocate a total allocation amounting to R411.323 million in the 2025 MTEF inclusive of R132.614 million for 2025/26 financial year to fund bursaries and training of provincial to educators. National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP): remains a key programme of the education sector to attract, retain and increase access to education for the most vulnerable learners in Quintile 1 to Quintile 3 Primary and Secondary public schools. This programme will continue to provide nutritious breakfast meals to over approximately 1.5 million learners (from Grade 0 to Grade 12). Over the 2025 MTEF, a budget allocation of R5.682 billion over the 2025 MTEF inclusive of an allocation of R1.828 billion in the 2025/26 financial year. 48