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DA wants EC Eds Dept to fill all vacant teaching posts for 2018


The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape has repeated its perennial appeal for all vacant teaching posts in the province to be filled.

The appeal on Monday came from DA MPL, Edmund van Vuuren, ahead of the 30 September deadline for the MEC for Education, Mandla Makupula, to declare the post establishment for the new school year.

“Every year, on 30 September, the MEC for Education declares the number of teaching posts in the province, based on the number of learners in the school system,” Van Vuuren said.

“Last year, the number of posts of 2017 remained the same as in 2016, totaling 54 747. Unfortunately, the number of posts declared was not enough for the 5 500 schools in the province, resulting in a number of vacant substantive posts in the system,” he added.

According to Van Vuuren, substantive posts are those posts budgeted for by the Department of Education.

“On our numerous school visits this year with the legislature and on my own oversight as a DA MPL, it was obvious that there is a large number of vacant posts, resulting in certain subjects such as maths and physical science not being taught or being taught by people who do not have the qualification or capability to do so,” he said.

He said while the Department wants to make Eastern Cape schools “centres of excellence”, this can only be done if schools have all the necessary resources to assist it to become a centre of excellence.

Van Vuuren said that MEC Makapula must avail a budget in order to have the adequate number of teachers as per the learner enrolment at schools while additional posts must be declared in schools where learner-numbers have increased.

“We cannot continue with a situation where vacant substantive posts are not filled year-in and year-out but is instead filled by walk-in staff on a three-month basis. This is not conducive to good teaching practices nor is it good for job security,” he said.