Teacher unemployment symptomatic of a deeper crisis in the education sector

The Weekend View

A massive increase in the number of vacant teaching posts should be a significant concern for every parent of a school going learner. This is according to Paul Esterhuizen, CEO of School-Days who also believes that the high number of vacant teaching posts is a self-inflicted one and South Africans need to hold ministers accountable. Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga recently revealed that in the last three years, vacancies in teacher posts had grown 28%, from around 24,000 to more than 31,000, despite unofficial estimations that there are at least 30 000 qualified teachers who are struggling to find employment. The Department of Basic Education has issued an order allowing schools to hire temporary teachers to address the vacancies. Meanwhile , National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) says government is not doing enough to stimulate the economy and that part of the issue is that the government tends to not act on its commitments. To discuss this further Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Paul Esterhuizen, CEO of School-Days and Basil Manuel , Executive Director at the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa)