teaching posts for 2007
24 August 2006
I am pleased to announce that, for the third year in a row now the WCED will
increase the total number of teaching posts in the province by 500 next year to
30 872 at a cost of R83,5 million.
It represents the highest increase in the number of posts over this period.
This means that teaching posts in the province have increased by 1 157 at a
total cost of R182,9 million since 2005 when the basket of teaching posts was
29 715.
As the MEC I have to determine the total number of posts based primarily on
what we can afford, taking into account the curriculum and redress needs of
schools as well.
The Head of Department is currently involved with consultations with school
governing bodies and teacher unions on the basket of posts and will later
release further details on how the department will distribute these posts once
these consultations are completed.
The total number of learners in the Western Cape has stabilised between 919
000 and 920 000 over the past two years, in Grades 1 to 12. Despite this trend,
the WCED has continued to increase the total number of teaching posts to
address specific challenges, especially those requiring redress.
While I agree that this allocation does not make any significant impact on
our teacher-learner ratio, which is currently 39:1 for primary schools and 35:1
for high schools, the situation cannot be described as a �crisis�.
We continually have to balance the demands of personnel and non-personnel
expenditure and the declaration of extra 500 posts was the best scenario, which
could be managed for 2007.
I will continue to raise the issue of additional resources for education
within the overall pressures faced by our provincial budget.
In 2005, budgetary constraints indicated that the province may have to shed
1 900 teaching posts in 2005. In the end, the WCED was able to increase the
basket of posts by 365 posts, thanks to intensive consultations within the
provincial government.
In 2006, the WCED increased the total number of posts by a further 292
posts. By this stage, learner numbers had stabilised, which meant that the
department could allocate posts creatively.
This included using the funds for 100 of these posts to appoint 510 Teaching
Assistants in poor schools to assist Foundation Phase teachers in primary
schools, for 2006. The WCED has now increased the total number of teaching
posts in the Western Cape by a further 500 posts for 2007.
The WCED will inform schools about their specific establishments in
September, once the WCED has completed consultations with school governing body
associations and the unions, subject to any further consultations that may be
required to finalise decisions on post distribution.
Breakdown of increases since 2005:
Year:
2005: Additional posts: 365; Cost per post: R147 000; Total cost: R53,6
million
2006: Additional posts: 292; Cost per post: R157 000; Total cost: R45,8
million
2007: Additional posts: 500; Cost per post: R167 000; Total cost: R83,5
million
Total: 1 157: R182,9 million
Enquiries:
Girt Witco
Tel: (021) 467 2523
Fax: (021) 425 5689
Cell: 082 550 3938
E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Web: http://wced.wcape.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
24 August 2006
