Basic Education on improving qualifications for Grade R teachers

Department of Basic Education working hard to improve qualifications for Grade R teachers

The Department of Basic Education has noted the report by the Auditor-General in terms of unqualified and under-qualified teachers for the year 2013. The report of the Auditor-General, which was tabled in Parliament last week, has found that half of the teachers in Grade R do not have the minimum qualification to teach in that grade. It says in 2013, 16 520 of 21 207 (78%) Grade R teachers did not have a diploma to teach at this level in line with the national qualification framework.

As a result of the AG's work the department conducted its own audit to verify the data and found that in fact there were 12 336 teachers who were in need of qualification upgrading.

The survey, conducted in 2014 established that nationally, 12 336 teachers have been found to be in need of qualification upgrading, either in the form of a  B.Ed. or Grade R Diploma, KwaZulu-Natal having the most at 4 504 and Gauteng the least at 30.

Currently the department is assisting all provinces to ensure teachers complete NQF Level 4, whilst a further 4 000 are receiving support to complete either a B Ed or Diploma in Grade R teaching. In addition to the support initiatives in place by the Department of Basic Education, provincial education departments such as the North West which has registered 50 practitioners at the North West University for the Diploma in Grade R teaching, the Gauteng department which has plans to enrol 500 Grade R practitioners in a three year NQF level six as well as the Northern Cape Department which has enrolled 130 Grade R practitioners with NWU for a Diploma in grade R teaching.

The department notes challenges being experienced in the capacity of Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) to enrol teachers on the programme which is currently low, at present there are only 4 institutions offering the programme with a total capacity of 2 690 per year, thus making it difficult for the provincial education departments (PEDs) to enrol the numbers required to reduce the backlog at the pace required. The department is in discussions with the relevant Higher Education forums to increase capacity to absorb the numbers at the required rate.

Enquiries:
Elijah Mhlanga
Cell: 083 580 8275

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