men holding pink and white poster with words written on it standing in front of grey building with pillars. Activists gather at the Western Cape High Court in protest of the decision to cut 2 407 teaching posts. Picture: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers
The provincial education department has conceded that the non-renewal of 2 407 teacher posts will undo some of the hard work done over the past few years to bring class sizes down, with the average teacher to learner ratio to increase this year.
The teacher to learner ratio is expected to increase from 1:34.2 in 2024 to 1:36.7 in 2025, said Education MEC David Maynier.
“We have worked hard over the past few years to bring class sizes down, but unfortunately the reduction will undo some of that work,” Maynier said.
This comes amid a public outcry after Maynier announced they could not save the 2 407 posts for the 2024/25 financial year, blaming the National Treasury’s budget cuts.
Some education stakeholders rejected this, calling for jobs to be saved as this could threaten education quality due to the teacher versus learner ratio.
The Special Action Committee for Education (SAC) turned to the courts over the decision at the end of last year, where an urgent interdict application was dismissed.
Western Cape High Court Judge Melanie Holderness struck part A of the matter, which called for interdicting the move, from the roll for a lack of urgency.
The second part of their application is expected to be heard in April.
Maynier said: “The national government’s decision to not fully fund the 2023 multi-year wage agreement resulted in a massive deficit for provincial education departments. We are not the only province affected, and every province will have to find a way to close the deficit. The claim that 2 407 teachers will lose their jobs is false. We are not retrenching or firing teachers. Some permanent teachers will be asked to move to another school where there is a suitable vacancy, and some contract teachers will not be reappointed after their contracts end.
“Our province ensured that all schools received their staff establishments at the end of August 2024, to give schools enough time to adjust their timetabling and planning accordingly. District and curriculum officials have been working closely with schools to implement the reduction in posts, taking into account the specific curriculum priorities at each school. We are now focused on the challenge of provisioning for growth in learner numbers in the 2025 school year, and will engage with our stakeholders in this regard.
“We will continue to do everything we can to fight for our teachers, and to fight for quality education in the Western Cape.”
The SAC said their biggest concern was how the post cuts would affect the most vulnerable communities, where overcrowding is already a challenge.
“Though we respect the court’s decision, we express our deepest disappointment against the court’s decision to strike our case for all children affected by the loss of 2407 teachers for the 2025 academic year from the court roll, citing a lack of urgency. We hoped for an urgent interdict to halt the WCED’s reckless and irrational decision. A decision with catastrophic implications for schools, communities, and the right to quality education for our children.”
The SAC said the decision was particularly devastating for schools in impoverished and crime-ridden areas.
“This decision will only exacerbate the existing problems. The cuts include 38 teachers in Atlantis, 42 in Elsies River, 53 in Eerste River, 35 in Gugulethu, 142 in Khayelitsha, and a staggering 176 in Mitchells Plain.
“The situation is particularly dire in high schools, where class sizes are even more imbalanced due to specialised subjects like physics and geography. Not all students take these subjects, leading to smaller classes in certain areas, while other classes remain overcrowded. The concern is that critical subjects, like those tied to the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions, may be cut to accommodate teacher shortages.
“The focus should be on putting the best interests of the child first, offering them the highest quality education and a full range of opportunities. Instead, it feels like decisions are being made without fully considering the long-term impact on pupils and their learning environment. What should be happening is greater investment in education, reducing class sizes and improving resources,” the SAC said.
Speaking to the Cape Times, a teacher who asked to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation said she was having sleepless nights from the anxiety of job uncertainty.
“I’m a nervous wreck right now, with everything feeling so uncertain with the teacher post cuts. I just feel like I don’t know what’s next, studying for a four-year degree, you are stuck if you do not have a post for this year. Also the financial difficulties you have to face now, other people depending on you. I don’t know how to comprehend everything that’s happening.
“I can’t even begin to imagine how learners will struggle in overcrowded classrooms. I feel like the children will be at a huge disadvantage now.”
Cape Times