Education
Given the current news about the approval of 1 356 new positions specified, (a) can the Minister indicate when these positions will be filled, and (b) how it will be determined to which schools these teachers will be allocated?
[a] The basket of teaching posts in the Western Cape has grown by 902 since January 2014.
These include additional 226 posts allocated during the period January to April 2014 to accommodate in-migration, and an additional 676 posts allocated to the basket of posts for 2015.
The WCED will issue staff establishments to schools on 22 August 2014 with a view to finalising appointments to new posts from 1 January 2015.
Schools will have an opportunity to apply for additional posts in August and September 2014 to meet growth and curriculum needs.
[b] Objectives when allocating the posts will include: supporting foundation phase teaching; maintaining stability at schools; reducing average teacher: learner ratios to not more than 1: 38; and addressing inequalities.
The department will use newly established teacher posts as opportunities to absorb excess teachers, and to place Funza Lushaka bursary holders who will complete their studies at the end of 2014.
The Department will also issue a vacancy list in September 2014 with a view to filling vacant teacher posts from 1 April 2015.
