4 May 2006
Two major agreements that bring about new ways in which educators can
improve their remuneration have been signed at the Education Labour Relations
Council (ELRC).
The parties to the ELRC, which comprise of the national Department of
Education, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), the National
Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA), Suid-Afrikaanse
Onderwys Unie (SAOU) and the National Teachers Union (NATU), have reached
agreement regarding the following:
* Improved Career Pathing and Accelerated Salary Progression for Educators,
and
* Revised School Grading Norms.
Both of these agreements aim to enhance the quality of teaching and learning
by making the profession more attractive for new recruits, and to ensure the
retention of good teachers and principals through improved conditions of
service. These measures should also contribute to improving the morale of
teachers.
The initiatives are part of the R4.2 billion allocated to improve the
remuneration of educators.
The agreement on Improved Career Pathing and Accelerated Salary Progression
will enable competent and committed teachers to progress to salary level 9, on
a notch of R162 765 per annum, without having to be promoted to a vacant
managerial post. Previously they would have reached a ceiling at R136 305 per
annum, before having to apply for Principal or Deputy Principal posts in order
to advance. We believe that this makes a teaching career considerably more
attractive to the many educators who prefer to remain in the classroom
throughout their careers. Progression will be dependent upon consistent good
performance, and will require a teacher to assume additional responsibilities
in providing guidance and support to new teachers, as a senior or master
teacher.
The agreement also provides that educators who continuously receive a âgoodâ
rating in their performance assessment, may qualify for the awarding of more
that a single salary notch each year. After one year of good performance, a
single notch of 1% will be awarded; after a second consecutive year another
single notch. But after a third consecutive year of good performance, three
notches can be earned by the teacher â a substantial incentive to strive
towards. This system will be phased in over three years, and R1.275 billion has
been made available for its implementation.
The second agreement on School Grading Norms seeks to establish new norms
for the Grading of Schools. This is significant since school Principals are
remunerated according to the grading of their school. In terms of the new
agreement the school will graded according to the number of teaching posts
allocated to the school, and this will result in an improvement in the salaries
of successful school principals. R490 million has been allocated for this
purpose.
The Department of Education and teacher unions are also working on the final
details of two further agreements. One of these is for the payment of
performance rewards to those educators who exhibit exceptional qualities â well
above the normal requirements of the post.
In addition, comprehensive research has been undertaken with regard to a
system for the payment of incentives to skilled teachers who teach in difficult
circumstances. These will include teachers of scarce subjects who are deployed
in rural schools, and perhaps others who are also working in disadvantaged
communities and schools, so as to ensure the spread of quality education to all
children. R1.6 billion has been set aside for these new initiatives, and an
announcement will be made as soon as agreement is reached about the criteria
for incentives, and once we have a credible and fair basis for assessing the
performance of teachers.
The Department of Education, together with the teacher unions, takes pride
in announcing these agreements, and is confident this will assist in improving
the quality of teaching and learning in our schools.
Enquiries: Tommy Makhode
Cell: 082 566 0446
Issued by: Department of Education
4 May 2006
