THOUSANDS of Eastern Cape schoolchildren will have to make do with insufficient teachers as schools enter the second term of the academic year.
The Daily Dispatch has seen a memo from education boss Mthunywa Ngonzo dated March28 sent to officials, which shows more than 500 teachers have either resigned, died or retired this year.
These were in addition to the hundreds of teachers still needed; a situation which has forced school governing bodies to hire and pay temporary teachers for jobs meant to be paid for by the state.
Eastern Cape education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani confirmed he was aware of the memo yesterday , but referred enquiries to Ngonzo, who could not be reached for a comment.
In the memo, Ngonzo said the department would only employ 380 teachers.
He instructed district managers to employ four teachers for now in each of the 23 districts of education in the province until the process of moving excess teachers was completed.
Ngonzo said the vacancies were a result of natural attrition.
“As of March18 the department had a total of 570 net vacancies as a result of natural attrition based on the distributed post basket for public schools in 2013.”
This was part of the 60820 jobs declared by the department for this year.
Ngonzo said the matter was discussed on March17.
He said districts would have to appoint qualified teachers on a temporary basis in addition to the 2354 already rehired by the department until the end of June.
Ngonzo said district managers would have to motivate their reasons for appointments. All the 380 posts should be filled this week, he added.
The department could not provide details on the number of teachers who had been appointed thus far.
Suid Afrikaanse Onderwyserunie provincial secretary Barbara van der Walt said if the department did not fill vacant posts there would not be an improvement in the matric pass rate this year.
“Pupils will suffer without enough teachers in classrooms. This matter will be discussed in the chamber on Friday. I just hope the department has a mandate to implement the proposed management plan.”
National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa provincial chief executive officer Peter Duminy said the matter was being discussed with the department.
Duminy declined to comment further.
Attempts to get a comment from the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union provincial office were unsuccessful. —
Over 500 teachers lost in EC
The Daily Dispatch has seen a memo from education boss Mthunywa Ngonzo dated March28 sent to officials, which shows more than 500 teachers have either resigned, died or retired this year.
These were in addition to the hundreds of teachers still needed; a situation which has forced school governing bodies to hire and pay temporary teachers for jobs meant to be paid for by the state.
Eastern Cape education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani confirmed he was aware of the memo yesterday , but referred enquiries to Ngonzo, who could not be reached for a comment.
In the memo, Ngonzo said the department would only employ 380 teachers.
He instructed district managers to employ four teachers for now in each of the 23 districts of education in the province until the process of moving excess teachers was completed.
Ngonzo said the vacancies were a result of natural attrition.
“As of March18 the department had a total of 570 net vacancies as a result of natural attrition based on the distributed post basket for public schools in 2013.”
This was part of the 60820 jobs declared by the department for this year.
Ngonzo said the matter was discussed on March17.
He said districts would have to appoint qualified teachers on a temporary basis in addition to the 2354 already rehired by the department until the end of June.
Ngonzo said district managers would have to motivate their reasons for appointments. All the 380 posts should be filled this week, he added.
The department could not provide details on the number of teachers who had been appointed thus far.
Suid Afrikaanse Onderwyserunie provincial secretary Barbara van der Walt said if the department did not fill vacant posts there would not be an improvement in the matric pass rate this year.
“Pupils will suffer without enough teachers in classrooms. This matter will be discussed in the chamber on Friday. I just hope the department has a mandate to implement the proposed management plan.”
National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa provincial chief executive officer Peter Duminy said the matter was being discussed with the department.
Duminy declined to comment further.
Attempts to get a comment from the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union provincial office were unsuccessful. —
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos