Eastern Cape teacher unions have expressed concern about the shortage of teachers ahead of the new school year which starts on Wednesday.
The National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa says its biggest concern is the whole process of moving additional educators and filling of other vacancies with temporary educators has not happened.
Naptosa's Eastern Cape spokesperson, Peter Duminy, says they're concerned that there will be many classes without teachers.
"The challenge is that it's going to affect those schools that are not in a position get assistance from the parents to employ in the interim people to be in those classrooms.
We have been pushing behind the scenes to have this process concluded or at least at an advanced stage, but there has been a lack of cooperation from the (Bhisho) education department."
Meanwhile, the SA Democratic Teachers Union expressed similar concerns.
Eastern Cape spokesperson, Mcekeleli Ngongeni, says the Bhisho Education Department is undermining the noble intentions of the ANC to provide quality education to South Africans.
He laid the blame squarely at the door of education superintendent general, Modidima Mannya.
"At the centre of the crisis is the maladminstration and inability to run the department of education by the current head of department. And, we are saying that the current head of department must leave this province as a matter of urgency," he said.
"We are going to take the battle to his doorstep so that we save the future of our children. As things are now he is taking the education of our children to the doldrums with the manner in which he is running the department."
