The Limpopo Department of Education has withdrawn a decision not to renew the contracts of over 2 000 temporary teachers. Last week, the department issued the teachers with letters informing them that their services would no longer be required. 

In a turn of events, the ministry has now announced that the teachers will be employed for another three months. Spokesperson for the department Ndo Mangala says the temporary teachers will be kept in the ministry’s employ until June as other senior positions like the head of department and others are being filled.

Mangala says once the top posts are filled, it will then be decided what will happen to the temporary educators. Responding to the development, the Professional Educators Union (PEU) is accusing the department of sending mixed messages to the teachers. Ben Machipi, PEU's provincial chairperson, says they are not impressed by the ministry’s handling of the issue. 

Last month, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) accused the national Department of Education of intending to cut the number of teachers in disadvantaged schools. The union said the department's proposal of the teacher learner ratio this year will result in under-resourced schools having insufficient classrooms.