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Teaching cutbacks will cause irreparable damage to education in South Africa

8 Oct 2024

At a time where teachers are under pressure to improve the literacy of pupils, it is unthinkable to retrench so many teachers. It will further increase the size of the overcrowded classes in poor schools and undermine any chance to improve our literacy.

The government’s decision to cut thousands of teaching posts has led to widespread unhappiness in education circles. In the past few weeks numerous provincial departments have indicated that they are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of severe budget cuts, poor economic conditions in the country, and financial mismanagement by the previous government.

At a media conference on 25 September, Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube said it is a national crisis. According to her, the department needs – besides its budget – another R120-billion to meet its obligations until 2027.

She says all provinces are affected and if the Department of Education does not get additional funding, provinces will not be able to fulfil their obligations. This goes not only for teaching posts, but also influences the provision of textbooks, transport and feeding schemes for pupils.

According to news reports, 2,407 posts are affected in the Western Cape and 3,400 in Gauteng. Other provinces may lose even more.

Read more: Teachers stand to lose posts as SA’s provincial education departments face budget shortfall of billions of rands

The Western Cape MEC for education, David Maynier, is on record as saying the national government will only be able to meet 64% of the nationally negotiated wage agreement. This places great pressure on the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to fund the 36% deficit.

Good party secretary-general Brett Herron has pointed out that although there might be less money available at national level, each province has already received its rightful share of the budget. In the case of the Western Cape, it received an unconditional budget of R62-billion which it can adapt and change depending on circumstances.

Labour legislation

According to the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), the national department started negotiating with teacher labour unions in June 2023. They were informed that the basket of posts would be decreased in 2025. This union alleges that the negotiation process was contrary to labour legislation, which forced SADTU to declare a dispute with the Education Labour Relations Council.

SADTU is now taking the Department of Education to court and threatening a strike. Meanwhile, Maynier has asked unions to take hands with the ministry in a joint search for a solution. A strike, he says, will not solve the problem of the budget deficit. I tend to agree.

Paul Sauer, chief executive of the Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysersunie, has said the problem is nothing new. He says the provincial departments have known about this for more than two years and should have made provision.

Overcrowded schools

Concerned educators say it has far-reaching consequences for public education.

It is common knowledge that South African schools are overcrowded. This is precisely why the impact of cutbacks on the workload of overworked teachers is cause for great concern.

Experts agree that 35 pupils should be the maximum class size in the intermediate and secondary phases. In the foundation phase where teachers must give individual attention to teach children to read and write, 25 per class is considered ideal.

At a time where teachers are under pressure to improve the literacy of pupils, it is unthinkable to retrench so many. It will further increase the size of the overcrowded classes in poor schools and undermine any chance to improve our literacy, or our ability to just offer effective education to pupils.

School principals fear that the poor discipline will deteriorate further. One need only read the news to realise that discipline in schools is in crisis. With fewer teachers available there is less supervision. I am not even referring to school sport and culture where teachers are also needed.

It is especially the overcrowded, poor and so-called no-fee schools that are the most disadvantaged. One principal I spoke to said he had 43 teachers on his staff for 1,200 pupils. The number of posts must now decrease to 33 which means this principal must lay off 10 teachers. Some schools will raise school fees and tax parents even more, but poor schools do not have the funds to offer these teachers a governing body contract.

Morale of teachers

Anyone who has ever taught knows that a very difficult time awaits teachers, principals and school governing bodies. I have first-hand knowledge of the process (as teacher, principal and circuit manager) and can testify to the negative impact that the layoff of teachers will have on the morale of the education community.

Circuit managers wonder how they are going to break the news to principals without being severely reproached. Principals become the target of unfair criticism from teachers and parents. They are often denounced as lackeys of the government. Teachers lie awake at night and wonder: am I the one destined to be named the “supernumerary” teacher?

Redeployment

The minister insists that the Department of Education will not retrench or dismiss teachers.

She maintains that it only means that teachers who have contract positions will not be appointed again when their contract expires at the end of December. Some permanent teachers will be redeployed and moved to a school where there is a suitable vacancy.

I wonder if the minister understands the complexity of a school. As a former principal with 27 years of teaching experience I know that most contract teachers teach subjects which are indispensable to the school, irrespective of whether he/she is a contract appointment.

Read more: New GNU Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube faces daunting challenges

In times such as this it is the art and music posts that are the first to fall under the guillotine. A teacher I spoke to has first-hand knowledge of what it means to be named supernumerary. Being the music teacher, her post was declared redundant and she has to wait for redeployment. The waiting and uncertainty became too much for her. Eventually she moved to a private institution where she now enjoys making a difference in the lives of children from a poor community.

Paralysing impact

The whole process has a paralysing effect on education. It undermines principals’ confidence to lead their staff and it is extremely traumatic for teachers. They start doubting themselves and their abilities which leads to decreased morale and increased absenteeism.

All of this has a negative impact on the pupils. The timing could not be worse. Matrics have just finished their record exam and will soon start preparing for the final exam. South Africa can hardly afford an unmotivated teachers corps now that pupils need their teachers’ undivided attention the most.

It is advisable that governing bodies assist teachers with trauma counselling and obtain legal advice for themselves and the principal. From experience I know that Fedsas provides a valuable service. They have legal advisers who are specially trained for this and the membership fee is less than what a lawyer will cost you.

‘Education for All’

Amid all the negativity about education posts I find it hard to motivate students to choose education as a career. Many young teachers are moving overseas, and the current crisis will only speed up this exodus.

Teachers are the heart of the education system. It is they who are responsible for a sustainable society. Without sufficient competent teachers South Africa will struggle to offer quality tuition for all as promised in our Constitution.

It therefore remains an open question whether it was the right decision to cut teaching posts in an attempt to save money. Gwarube, meanwhile, has requested an urgent meeting with Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana. It is heartwarming that he has agreed to a meeting.

We owe it to our children to first investigate all other possible alternatives. DM

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