Government has been clear in stating that it is aiming for sustainability and that ‘today’s spending’ must not be at the expense of future generations. Government intends simply to “do more with less”. Our deficit must be reduced and therefore we must spend less they say.
Organisations working with children are acutely aware that more funding is needed even to maintain the gains made let alone increase services.
As government plans to increase services it also intends providing no extra money and a ‘quality crisis’ is expected. Departments which are already struggling are being asked to do more with less. Tragically if the departments fail to deliver – and this is very possible - the impact on children is expected to be cruel!
The conservative monetary measures taken by the Finance Minister make sense on many levels as we aim to be responsible – however we are choosing quantity over quality at great risk.
The questions being asked are:
“Is this the right time to be stripping South Africa of its ‘entitlement culture’?
“Are we ready for this way of doing things”?
“Will the cost be too great – especially where children are concerned”?
The general feeling is that there is no evidence of any qualitative shift in government thinking with regard to children and family – and that the 2013 Budget is a brave attempt at muddling through!!
No comments:
Post a Comment