Education
With regard to the appointment of principals and other senior management teams (SMTs) at schools in the province from 2019 to 2022 to date:
- (a) What are the details of the schools that have (i) acting principals, (ii) acting deputy principals and (iii) other acting SMT members, (b) for how long have these persons been acting, (c)(i) when did the vacancies become available and (ii) what are reasons thereof and (d)(i) what plans are in place to fill these vacancies and (ii) when will they be filled;
(2) (a) what are the details of the vacancies for (i) principals and (ii) deputy principals that have been advertised each year during the specified period and (b) how many have been filled and (c)(i) how many remain vacant per (aa) school and (bb) district and (ii) what are the reasons thereof?
My department has informed me of the following (data as at 19 September 2022):
(1) (a) See attachment.
(b) The annual vacancy rate for Principal and Deputy Principal posts is 10%. The Employment of Educators Act, and the Personnel Administrative Measures, allow for acting appointments to ensure that School Management Team (SMT) posts are filled with zero impact on teaching and learning. The acting appointments also allow for succession development in the higher posts.
(c) Posts become vacant due to natural attrition, which includes, resignations, retirement, ill-health and death, as well as promotions.
(d) (i) Posts are advertised in the scheduled vacancy lists, the dates are below:
|
Vacancy Lists |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Vacancy List 1 |
15/02/2019 |
17/02/2020 |
15/02/2021 |
14/02/2022 |
|
Vacancy List 2 |
03/06/2019 |
01/06/2020 |
07/06/2021 |
06/06/2022 |
|
Vacancy List 3 |
02/09/2019 |
07/09/2020 |
06/09/2021 |
05/09/2022 |
In addition to the scheduled vacancy lists, Principal posts are advertised on demand (i.e. as required by District Offices and/or school).
(ii) School Governing Bodies (SGBs) are responsible for the recruitment and selection process, and the submission of nominations for appointment. On average the recruitment and selection process take up to four months to the approval of a nomination. To ensure stability at schools, appointments are confirmed for the start of a new term only.
- (a) The table below provides a summary update of posts advertised vs posts filled in respect of Vacancy List 1/2019 – Vacancy List 3/2019:
|
Vacancy Indicator |
Rank Name |
Total Advertised |
Total Concluded |
Total Not Concluded |
|
Vl1/2019-Vl3/2019 |
Principal |
186 |
158 |
28 |
|
Vl1/2019-Vl3/2019 |
Deputy Principal |
280 |
223 |
57 |
|
Totals |
466 |
381 |
85 |
|
The table below provides a summary update of posts advertised vs posts filled in respect of Vacancy Lists 1/2020 – Vacancy List 3/2020:
|
Vacancy Indicator |
Rank Name |
Total Advertised |
Total Concluded |
Total Not Concluded |
|
Vl1/2020-Vl3/2020 |
Principal |
190 |
176 |
14 |
|
Vl1/2020-Vl3/2020 |
Deputy Principal |
213 |
183 |
30 |
|
Totals |
403 |
359 |
44 |
|
The table below provides a summary update of posts advertised vs posts filled in respect of Vacancy Lists 1/2021 – Vacancy List 3/2021:
|
Vacancy Indicator |
Rank Name |
Total Advertised |
Total Concluded |
Total Not Concluded |
|
Vl1/2021-Vl3/2021 |
Principal |
312 |
214 |
98 |
|
Vl1/2021-Vl3/2021 |
Deputy Principal |
314 |
165 |
149 |
|
Totals |
626 |
379 |
247 |
|
The table below provides a summary update of posts advertised vs posts filled in respect of Vacancy Lists 1/2022 – Vacancy List 3/2022:
|
Vacancy Indicator |
Rank Name |
Total Advertised |
Total Concluded |
Total Not Concluded |
|
Vl1/2022-Vl3/2022 |
Principal |
160 |
14 |
146 |
|
Vl1/2022-Vl3/2022 |
Deputy Rincipal |
220 |
8 |
212 |
|
Totals |
380 |
22 |
358 |
|
(b) These processes are being finalised between the SGBs and the Department, as some of the due dates for submission of nominations by SGBs are still in the future.
The following is a reflection of vacancies as at 19 September 2022. Note that there are three Vacancy Lists for the advertising of promotion posts per annum, and some of the vacancies might occur after the date of the publication of the relevant Vacancy List. These are either being addressed through Special Vacancy List, or the vacancies reflected are part of those already advertised and in the process of being filled according to the process.
Principals (as of 19 Sept 2022)
|
District |
Posts vacant |
|
Cape Winelands |
72 |
|
Eden & Central Karoo |
47 |
|
Metro Central |
25 |
|
Metro East |
33 |
|
Metro North |
57 |
|
Metro South |
35 |
|
Overberg |
23 |
|
West Coast |
31 |
|
Total |
323 |
Deputy Principals (as of 19 Sept 2022)
|
District |
Posts Vacant |
|
Cape Winelands |
57 |
|
Eden & Central Karoo |
41 |
|
Metro Central |
57 |
|
Metro East |
81 |
|
Metro North |
98 |
|
Metro South |
92 |
|
Overberg |
18 |
|
West Coast |
37 |
|
Total |
481 |
It must be noted that the posts are ordinarily filled with an acting appointment from existing staff at the school, or through a curator principal.
(c) Posts become vacant mainly due to natural attrition.
The Recruitment and Selection process is managed by the SGBs as mandated in terms of the South African Schools Act.
The Department provides guidance on the due dates for the finalisation of process, but this is subject to the availability of SGBs to conclude said recruitment processes within the specified timeframes.
