The KwaZulu-Natal government has revealed that its Department of Education is in a dire financial situation and urgently needs about R3,4 billion.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube held an urgent meeting in Durban with provincial authorities.

The department is the biggest in the country with over two million learners.

In recent months, the department has experienced several challenges.

These include the closure of some early childhood development centres, non-payment of teachers under this programme and the non-payment of service providers.

As means of addressing the situation, provincial treasury took over the department’s finances amid alleged gross mismanagement.

Gwarube says among the solutions is the auditing of ghost employees.

“Our practical solutions include the audit of the ghost employees and ghost learners. We are looking at over two million learners in the province. I am commending the province for bringing down ghost employees down from 93% to 89%.”

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli says he has established a working group to assist the department.

“I have established a troika wherein myself, the MEC for Education and Finance sit and consider the progress in terms of stabilising the department. I have also established a working group, which is constituted by the technocrats that is briefing cabinet on a regular basis on the progress and challenges that are there in the department,” says Ntuli.