SEVERE budget cuts by the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Education will see only 774 new teachers being employed in the province.
Currently, more than 45 000 entry level 1 teachers remain unemployed in the province.
During a recent presentation to the portfolio committee on basic education in the National Assembly, the KZN Department of Education indicated that it needed 11 092 teacher posts to be filled to operate effectively.
The province had an education budget shortfall of R4 billion for this year alone, and had to reduce the norms and standards payments to schools and delayed paying service providers, it emerged at the presentation.
Muzi Mahlambi, the spokesperson for the KZN Department of Education, said they had been allocated R62.988 588 billion for 2024/2025 with a shortfall of R4 billion from this year’s budget.
“About 80% of the 2024/2025 budget is allocated for salaries. There is a misconception that we will be retrenching teachers. The fact is, we need 11 092 teachers for our schools to run smoothly. We currently have a ratio of 1:70 in some schools. We have only advertised 774 teaching posts for January next year,” he added.
The Gauteng Education Department said that it would have to reduce learner transport, and it would not be able to expand early childhood development coverage as planned because of the budget cuts.
Experts have warned that slashing funding in the department and reducing teachers would have dire consequences for education.
Education expert Professor Vimolan
Mudaly said educating a nation had to be the priority of any government.
“The idea that the economic recession has necessitated a cut in the education budget is incomprehensible. Was education the first victim of this downturn? Not just education, but whose idea was it, pedagogically speaking, that teachers could be eliminated from their posts in schools?” he asked.
“We have been criticising the high numbers of children in classrooms already and this sudden decision, perhaps by people who really do not know much about quality education, places the entire education system in an absolute mess.
“These decisions impact the poor citizens of the country more because the schools they attend generally cannot afford the additional governing body paid teachers.
“So, the government that is supposed to serve the people is now preparing to punish them,” added Mudaly. He said those teachers who were fortunate to retain their posts would become frustrated within the next few years.
“Their workload will increase and quality will surely become compromised. The Department of Basic Education must be prepared to endure schools having teachers who are struggling with poor health and are on sick leave for protracted periods of time,” he added.
Mudaly said the implications for the children and society were even more dire.
“Children are exposed to a standard of education that we all hoped would be better. We want better resources, both human and material. The lack of digital resources in the 21st century in our schools places us in such an invidious position. This loss of teaching posts will herald greater unemployment and poverty in the years to come.
“All this does is that it promotes exploitation and crime,” he said.
Thirona Moodley, the CEO of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) in KwaZulu-Natal, said there had been consistent budget cuts over the years in the department.
“The reality is that the department cannot afford to pay most teachers. Our union has called on the treasury to revisit the formula used to allocate funds to education. With fewer teachers, there will be an impact on learning. We will see a larger number of pupils in classrooms and it will impact the quality of education. It will also put more pressure on teachers.”
Nomarashiya Caluza, the general secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) said the budget cuts put pressure on principals.
“The Department of Education is not able to pay the norms and standards for schools. Principals have no choice but to cut back on their spending for upgrades at schools and even stationery for pupils.
“Although schools charge fees and have fundraising drives to generate additional income, one must also remember that the majority of schools in KwaZulu-Natal are non-fee paying and many parents do not have money for fundraising drives due to the high cost of living.”
Vee Gani, from the Parents Association in KwaZulu-Natal, said education was the cornerstone of the country.
“Without education we cannot progress as a society.
“The budget for education has been reduced over a period of time, and because of this we cannot provide quality education and now we cannot afford to pay teachers. This will impact teaching.”
Meanwhile, qualified teachers without jobs believe they have “wasted our time” studying because they have been unemployed for years.
A 30-year-old teacher, from Lenham, in Phoenix, said he had worked as a substitute teacher for two years and was not given the job when the post became available.
“Favouritism and nepotism are also a problem in schools and in the Department of Education. I qualified in 2022 as an English and natural science teacher.
“Sadly, my life has been at a standstill since then,” he said.
Another teacher, from Mariannhill, said she graduated in 2021, with a teaching degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
“Since graduating I have not been able to secure a job. I am currently also applying for jobs in the retail and administration sectors just so I can earn an income.”
Another Durban teacher, 27, said she was at her “wits’ end” and concerned that there was no growth for the youth.
“We are the future of this country but we are being sidelined because employment is not being created for us.
“It is also not easy to leave the country because we may not have the financial means to do so and because we do not have the necessary experience,” she lamented.
The POST