Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Velani Ludidi
Published on 2024-04-05 08:09:02
Teachers in some Western Cape public schools, in collaboration with the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), have raised concerns about the cost containment measures being implemented by the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED). The WCED released a circular on 21 November 2023 outlining the need for these measures to maintain the number of permanent teaching positions in the system and ensure stability in schools.
According to the circular, the cost containment measures involve not hiring substitute teachers for various reasons, such as teachers on sick leave, although they will still be hired to cover maternity leave applications. Any teaching positions that are not filled through the conversion process by 31 March 2024, which involves changing contract positions to permanent positions, can only be filled through a formal recruitment and selection process.
Schools that are unable to afford hiring teachers through the school governing body (SGB) budgets, which are separate from government-funded positions, will be significantly impacted by these measures. Some teachers who were hired on contracts received notifications that their contracts would not be renewed after not being converted to permanent contracts. In one school, four teachers were affected by this and the remaining teachers were asked to work on a new timetable and divide subjects among themselves, leading to chaos and increased workload.
Teachers expressed concerns about having to teach subjects they are not qualified for, resulting in added administrative tasks and double the workload. Sadtu has decided to launch a campaign against the implementation of these cost containment measures, stating that it will create a staffing disaster for poor, working-class schools. Sadtu Secretary Sibongile Kwazi criticized the WCED for neglecting the education of poor learners and widening the gap between affluent and working-class schools.
Muhammad Khalid Sayed, an ANC spokesperson on education, called the measures an act of educational sabotage, accusing the WCED of perpetuating inequality and hindering the future prospects of vulnerable communities. He urged the national government to intervene to protect the rights of learners. In response, WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond explained that the department had to implement cost containment measures due to major budget cuts announced by the national government.
To address the budget deficit, approximately 3,100 contract positions were converted to permanent positions, and special vacancy lists were provided for schools to fill vacant positions. The WCED is actively supporting schools in implementing these measures and ensuring that they can continue to provide quality education. Despite the challenges posed by budget cuts, the department remains committed to supporting schools and delivering quality education to learners in the Western Cape.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
