Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
04 May 2024 | 11:45 CAT

Teacher in a classroom Image/ GroundUP

The Basic Education Department in South Africa faces severe criticism as it struggles to fill over 31,000 teaching positions, prompting concerns about education quality and learners’ future. Despite efforts to recruit and train teachers, challenges persist, including budget cuts and inefficiencies in placement. The shortage underscores broader issues in the education sector.

The National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) says the government’s failure to stimulate the economy is partly to blame.

Elaborating on NAPTOSA’s assessment, Thirona Moodley, CEO of NAPTOSA in KwaZulu-Natal, argues, “It is not a shortage of teachers as there is actually an oversupply of qualified professional teachers within the province of KZN.” 

Moodley pointed out that the major concern is the delays in filling the vacancies permanently. 

“There has been a misconception since the minister made the announcement that there are more than 30 000 classrooms without teachers, when in actuality there are temporary teachers in these posts,” Moodley explains. 

Minister Angie Motshekga recently revealed that vacancies have increased from around 24,000 to more than 31,000 in the last three years.

Unfilled vacancies are just the tip of the iceberg, as public schools need more infrastructure.

Pupils are forced to sit in unsafe classrooms, use pit toilets, as well as share furniture, textbooks, and stationery.

NAPTOSA’s executive director Basil Manuel says, “So, in terms of the quantum, we have it; just judging by the reports from the NRC in the provinces, there are approximately 8,000 posts where there may not be teachers, as opposed to the 31 to 32 000 that were mentioned. The others have, but they are temporary teachers, but that still needs to be solved because it talks to inefficiencies in the system.

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie Here.