13 December 2006
Close to 1 500 temporary teachers, who have been teaching for more than 12
months at their schools, have received the good news that they will assume
permanent positions from January.
The decision follows a collective agreement between the KwaZulu-Natal
Department of Education and teacher unions in the province.
The 1 490 teachers, who had been recommended by their school governing
bodies, will receive their letters of appointment from Friday.
The latest agreement is a further step to eradicate the bizarre phenomenon
of âtemporaryâ permanent educators that KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC, Ina
Cronje, inherited when she took over in April 2004. Since her intervention the
number of temporary teachers (all categories, excluding substitute teachers)
has dropped from 16 938 to just more than 2 000.
The department will always have a number of temporary and substitute
educators to fill in for teachers on study leave, sick leave, accouchement
leave, etc. It is a phenomenon that exists in the teaching profession
throughout the world. What is unacceptable is to have teachers teaching for
more than 12 months in a temporary capacity. This undesirable situation has
almost been wiped out by the latest action.
The stability that MEC Cronje (the longest serving Education MEC in the
province) has brought is reflected in the signing of five collective agreements
with teacher unions in KwaZulu-Natal. Currently the KwaZulu-Natal Department of
Education is leading the way.
A further 2 500 posts will be advertised in the new year, following MEC
Cronje's announcement to employ more teachers for 2007. This will bring the
teacher/ learner ratio to the lowest in the province since democracy. At 31,36
the teacher/learner ratio is an all time low. It stood on one teacher per 34,9
learners in 2004 when MEC Cronje took office. In 2005 it dropped to 34,6, the
current ratio is 32,35 and now it is at an all time low of 31,36.
Enquiries:
Christi Naude
Cell: 083 262 8829
Issued by: Department of Education, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Government
13 December 2006
