An exploration of the effects of government financial subsidies on the performance of schools and learners in the OR Tambo District Municipality

An exploration of the effects of government financial subsidies on the performance of schools and learners in the OR Tambo District Municipality Under the Direction of: Prof EOC Ijeoma. As much as the awarded fiscal resources have been critical for improving the quality of learning and education as well as the performance of schools, there are still often inhibitors that affect the extent to which such fiscal packages are able to induce achievement of the desired educational outcomes. Thematic analysis of the interview findings revealed the limitations undermining the extent to which the allocated fiscal resources are able to influence the achievement of the desired positive educational outcomes and these are linked to poor school financial management, poor planning and budgeting, poor school governance and corruption and theft of funds. The other limitations that mar the effective performance of certain schools to achieve the desired educational outcomes were also noted to arise from the shortage of teachers for critical subjects, poor motivation of teachers in rural areas, poor learners’ welfare and poor infrastructure. To respond to these challenges, it is argued that the OR Tambo District Department of Education must develop special fiscal packages for teachers in the rural areas, develop special fiscal packages for teachers of special subjects such as science and mathematics, invest in the educational infrastructure and facilities, and proactively develop school managers. Future research can explore a framework for monitoring and evaluation of the effects of educational fiscal grants on the performance of schools and learners