Key Takeaways
- Over 32,000 teachers have left South Africa’s public schooling system in the past five years, with 96% of these being resignations.
- The main factors influencing resignations include retirement eligibility, career changes, migration to other sectors or countries, and overwhelming workload pressures.
- The teacher shortage has resulted in overcrowded classrooms, with 50% of primary school learners being taught in classes of over 40 and 15% in classes larger than 50.
- Despite the high number of vacant teaching positions, there are over 12,700 qualified educators actively seeking employment in South Africa.
- The government has been called upon to table a teacher deployment and absorption plan to employ all qualified educators on the national database and to address burnout, poor working conditions, and salary disparities driving skilled teachers out of the profession.
Introduction to the Teacher Shortage
The South African public schooling system is facing a significant challenge with the loss of over 32,000 teachers in the past five years. According to a written reply from Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube, 96% of these teachers left the system due to resignations, while the remaining 4% were dismissed. This alarming rate of teacher turnover has severe implications for the quality of education provided to learners, with many classrooms becoming overcrowded and teachers being overworked and underpaid.
Factors Influencing Teacher Resignations
The reasons behind the high rate of teacher resignations are complex and multifaceted. According to Gwarube, factors such as retirement eligibility, career changes, migration to other sectors or countries, and overwhelming workload pressures are contributing to the exodus of teachers from the public schooling system. The Build One South Africa (BOSA) party has highlighted the need for urgent action to address these issues, citing the impact of burnout, lack of professional support, and deteriorating working conditions on teachers. The party’s spokesperson, Roger Solomons, emphasized that the teacher shortage is having a direct impact on learners, with many being taught in overcrowded classes and receiving inadequate attention from their teachers.
Comparing Teacher-to-Learner Ratios
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has reported that South Africa has one of the highest learner-to-teacher ratios in the world. In primary education, the country has an average of over 40 learners per teacher, compared to countries like Ireland and New Zealand, which have fewer than five learners per teacher. In secondary education, the situation is equally concerning, with South Africa having an average of over 30 learners per teacher, significantly higher than countries like India, Colombia, and Brazil. These comparisons highlight the need for urgent action to address the teacher shortage and reduce the learner-to-teacher ratio in South African schools.
Vacant Teaching Positions and Unemployed Educators
Despite the high demand for teachers, there are thousands of vacant teaching positions in South African public schools. Earlier this year, it was reported that there are roughly 29,000 vacant teaching positions, with the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) expressing concern about the impact of these unfilled posts on the quality of education. The union’s spokesperson, Nomusa Cembi, emphasized that the government’s failure to employ support staff in schools is adding to the pressure on teachers, who are already overburdened with administrative work. Furthermore, many qualified educators are being forced to seek employment overseas due to the lack of opportunities in South Africa.
Calling for Government Action
In response to the teacher shortage, BOSA has called on Minister Gwarube to table a teacher deployment and absorption plan to employ all qualified educators on the national database. The party has also demanded that the minister table a teacher retention strategy to address burnout, poor working conditions, and salary disparities driving skilled teachers out of the profession. With over 12,700 qualified educators actively seeking employment in South Africa, it is imperative that the government takes urgent action to address the teacher shortage and provide learners with the quality education they deserve. By doing so, the government can help to reduce the learner-to-teacher ratio, improve working conditions for teachers, and provide opportunities for unemployed educators to pursue their passion for teaching.
