The more than 2 400 contract teachers who face the prospect of being unemployed by the end of the year will only know next month whether they will be returning to their jobs when schools reopen next year.
The more than 2 400 contract teachers who face the prospect of being unemployed by the end of the year will only know next month whether they will be returning to their jobs when schools reopen next year.
This is according to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) after its engagement with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and other senior officials last week.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said the current fiscal challenges experienced across all sectors –which now affect the Education Department and the imminent unemployment of thousands of teachers in the province – are the result of “poor policy choices” by the government.
Set on protecting the jobs of teachers, SADTU provincial secretary Sibongile Kwazi said they want clear communication from the WCED on their intervention methods.
“While we note the statement (from DBE), we shall continue with our planned actions until there is formal communication via the provincial education department that they are withdrawing the staff establishments for 2025 and maintaining or increasing the current post basket. Our fight is with WCED who is responsible for education in the province. They have the responsibility to engage the national government in the interest of education in the province,” said Kwazi.
Gwarube, in response to the urgent challenges, on Friday last week convened an urgent meeting of the Council of Education Ministers (CEM).
“The meeting agreed that each province will undertake an analysis of the specific impact in their jurisdiction and report back to a special CEM meeting. As soon as this impact analysis is completed, I will convene an urgent meeting with the Minister of Finance and Treasury to table these findings and work toward a solution that safeguards the future of our learners.”
She said Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) receive their Compensation of Employees (COE) budget allocation directly from the National Treasury, which is sent to the respective Provincial Treasury.
“As such, provinces act as employers, and in terms of this function, they are independent of the Department of Basic Education. Each PED is responsible for managing its own human resource matters in coordination with their Provincial Treasuries,” a DBE statement read.
Education MEC, David Maynier, said provinces again raised the national nature of the fiscal emergency during last week’s engagement with DBE.
“The meeting confirmed that the Western Cape is not alone in facing massive budget shortfalls, and a follow-up meeting has been scheduled to fully outline the financial pressures each province is facing.
“Please note: we are not firing or retrenching teachers. To say that ‘2 400 teachers will lose their jobs’ is not correct. The reduction in posts will mean that some contract teachers will not be reappointed after their contracts end on 31 December 2024, and some permanent teachers will be asked to move to another school where there is a suitable vacancy... On (September 6) we again outlined the seriousness of the challenge facing provinces, and further engagements have been scheduled to compile a clear picture of the severity of the budget shortfalls across all provinces,” said Maynier.
Probed about when teachers would be officially informed that their contracts would not be renewed for next year, Maynier said: “Teachers will be notified by their school. Schools are currently working with districts to determine which staff members will be affected.”
GOOD Party secretary general Brett Herron said the topic needs urgent public debate.
“(We have) requested the Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament to schedule a debate on the Western Cape Government’s decision to cut 2 407 teacher posts, as a matter of urgent public importance. The government’s notice to school principals and governing bodies of the proposed job cuts has led to widespread concern about the impact of this decision on the right of teachers to job security, and of all South Africans to a quality education system.
“It is unfair to ask teachers to sacrifice their careers at the altar of a political fight that the Western Cape Government is unnecessarily orchestrating. It is particularly unfair on school communities in less affluent areas, which will bear the brunt of the teacher losses as their parent bodies won’t be able to afford the costs to replace them. It is a regressive step that will further skew inequality,” said Herron.
Cape Times