The announcement of more than 2,400 teaching posts being cut by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has raised concerns with Cape Forum.
The cuts are effective from January 1, 2025.
The WCED sent out communication of its plans to schools on Tuesday, informing them that, due to severe budget cuts, it would not be able to maintain the current number of teaching posts in the Western Cape.
Provincial MEC of Education, David Maynier said they have done everything to fight for their teachers.
“We are doing everything we can to fight for our teachers, but we are being short-changed by the national government, receiving only 64% of the cost of the nationally negotiated wage agreement, leaving the province to fund the remaining 36%, resulting in a massive budget shortfall of R3.8 billion. We have done everything we can to fight for our teachers by imposing budget cuts across the board, including on administration, curriculum and infrastructure.
“We have also frozen the recruitment of most public service staff, encouraged schools to convert contract appointments, and restricted the appointment of substitute teachers.
“Despite implementing a drastic R2.5 billion budget cut, we still face a R3.8 billion budget shortfall over the next three years. To remain fiscally stable, we will have no choice but to reduce the basket of educators,” Maynier said.
However, community organisation, Cape Forum said the cut of the teaching posts will have far-reaching consequences for the Western Cape and will not only affect the education sector, but community development, crime rates, and economic growth.
The organisation said it laid out a four-point risk analysis which will be handed over to the WCED.
“If this cut continues, approximately 7% of the province’s approximately 36,000 teaching positions will be at risk. Cape Forum already met with the WCED in January and April this year to advocate, among other things, for greater independence from and reduced state control of schools. The organisation maintains that a federal approach to education in this province could have mitigated the impact of the WCED’s drastic decision,” the organisation said.
Head of community activation at Cape Forum, Bernard Pieters said the quality of education will also bear the brunt.
“Larger classes and less individual attention are going to be learners’ fate in less affluent schools in particular. This, despite the fact that the WCED indicated in its 2024/2025 Performance Plan that the demand for education in the province is increasing to such an extent that a minimum of 1,440 additional classrooms are required to meet the need,” Pieters said.
According to the organisation, statistics cited in the same document show that more than 404,800 learners in this province received education in overcrowded classes last year. This amounts to approximately 34% of all Western Cape Grade 1 to 12 learners, including learners with special educational needs, who are already placed in classes with 40 learners or more.
“Urgent and joint action and planning are now essential in order to act in the interest of education in the Western Cape and communities in the province and to bridge the budget deficits,” Pieters said.