The MEC for Education's recent pronouncements on the 2014 school staff establishment whereby 5 024 posts will be cut will have an adverse effect in classrooms and on the general morale of teachers. Instead of cutting teacher numbers, the DA believes that the Department of Education needs to revisit its organogram and downsize its bloated administration at its head office in Zwelitsha and its 23 district offices. According to the Persal system the department employed at total of 80 848 people … [Read more...] about Cut bloated administration, not teacher posts
teachers
Education crisis: Afrikaans teacher shortage can be solved
The MEC for Education is currently meeting with certain targeted districts, especially those where there are critical shortages of teachers whose medium of teaching is Afrikaans. I have today written to MEC Mandla Makupula to place proposals on the table regarding post provisioning, for consideration. My proposals are: Request those Afrikaans speaking teachers not on the redeployment list and who are teaching at Township and predominantly English speaking schools to avail themselves to … [Read more...] about Education crisis: Afrikaans teacher shortage can be solved
Open letter to the Premier: Please act against teacher shortages
I feel compelled to write to you, Madam Premier, because it has become very clear that the closure of schools by parents due to teacher shortages is a trend that is spreading throughout the province like wildfire. The situation is clearly beyond the control of the Eastern Cape Department of Education, which has so far done little to address the issue of excess teachers who refuse to move to schools where they are needed. Schools where fed-up parents are forcing closures is no longer … [Read more...] about Open letter to the Premier: Please act against teacher shortages
Temporary teachers again without pay
The Department of Education must come clean about whether it has run out of money and is playing for time until after the end of the financial year on 28 February before it pays temporary teachers in 19 out of the 23 districts in the province. A total of 2 202 temporary teachers were appointed until the end of March, of which only those in four districts have been paid. The department has crafted the excuse that the Treasury is not authorising payment because "documents that were requested … [Read more...] about Temporary teachers again without pay
Legal action against teachers will take too long
The DA welcomes the Eastern Cape Department of Education's announcement that it will take action against teachers who are refusing to be transferred from their current schools where they are in excess. The Department announced today that it had instructed its labour section to start disciplinary procedures against such educators. This time-consuming approach will not work however. In the meantime our children will continue to suffer poor education because of cramped up conditions and … [Read more...] about Legal action against teachers will take too long
Stop pay-cheques for EC teachers on 1 February
Eastern Cape teachers who refuse to be transferred to schools with staff shortages by 1 February 2013 should have their pay-cheques stopped. There are currently 5343 staff from principal to teacher level who are in excess at their current schools and need to be transferred. Pupils in the poorest schools in the Eastern Cape are suffering with very few teachers because SADTU continues to oppose the transfer of teachers. In a letter to MEC Mandla Makhupula this morning, the DA welcomed the … [Read more...] about Stop pay-cheques for EC teachers on 1 February
Billions lost on surplus teachers
The Eastern Cape has squandered R1, 596 billion annually on surplus teachers despite an undertaking by the Premier two years ago to "move with speed" to deal with the situation. Over a two year period this has amounted to R3, 192 billion. This issue must be viewed in the light of the province’s overall financial position where there is a crying need to improve the efficient and effective allocation of government resources to make this a winning province. This province faces huge challenges … [Read more...] about Billions lost on surplus teachers
ANC called on to support motion for bailout to save 11 000 EC teacher jobs
The Democratic Alliance will table a motion with notice this afternoon for the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature to instruct Education MEC Mandla Makupula to enter into immediate negotiations for a financial bailout. The motion also calls for the MEC to table a plan in the Portfolio Committee of Education of how the financial shortfall in the education budget will be dealt with as well as how all substantive vacant posts will be filled. MEC Makupula viciously attacked me in a sitting of the … [Read more...] about ANC called on to support motion for bailout to save 11 000 EC teacher jobs
Temporary Teachers now Six Months Without Pay
Three categories of temporary teachers have been waiting almost six months to be paid. While the Democratic Alliance welcomes the rehiring of some 4 000 temporary teachers as reported in the media (The Herald and Daily Dispatch, 22 May 2012), the ability of the Eastern Cape Department of Education to pay its teachers must be questioned. Red-tape and bureaucratic bungling resulting in the non-payment of teachers illustrates an administration totally out of touch with its core function. The DA … [Read more...] about Temporary Teachers now Six Months Without Pay
Payment of EC Temporary Teachers now Guaranteed
The DA is delighted to announce that some 600 teachers appointed on a temporary basis in the province and who have not been paid since the beginning of this year, will receive their money on 15 May 2012. This follows DA interaction between the DA and the acting Superintendent -General of the Department of Education, Mthunywa Ngonzo, on 3 May 2012 during a legislature portfolio committee meeting. During a follow-up conversation between myself and Mr. Ngonzo this morning, he informed me that … [Read more...] about Payment of EC Temporary Teachers now Guaranteed
