Teacher shortfall predicted for 2008

Teacher unions say there is a desparate shortage of teachers

Two days before inland schools reopen, teachers have raised concerns about the number of teachers who'll enter the classroom.

The Human Sciences Research Council has projected a shortfall of 15 000 teachers this year, with unions placing the figure above the 20 000 mark.

A lack of proper planning and the impact of HIV and AIDS are being cited for the shortfall.

The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation (Naptosa) says more than 20 000 additional teachers are needed. Naptosa’s Dave Bolt says: “… (In) South Africa (the) teacher/pupil ratio is unacceptably high, particularly in grade 1, 2 and 3 classes… If you have a shortage with that kind of ratio, we are short of many tens of thousands of teachers as we stand right now.”

However, the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) says the problem is much bigger. Sadtu’s Thulas Nxesi says: “Clearly we are sitting with overcrowding in our schools; we can talk about not less than 40 000 teachers that are needed in the system immediately.”

Foreign teachers to fill the gap
The Education Department says it intends employing about 2 000 foreign teachers in specific subjects this year. However, mother tongue instruction in the lower grades remains a challenge.

In 2006, 6 000 teachers graduated. Less than 50 were competent to teach in African languages in the lower grades.

Wits Education’s Mary Metcalfe says: “If people from other countries aren't fully fluent in the African languages in which our children need to be taught, they aren't going to help. The greatest challenge is to have young people trained because our children need to be taught in a language they understand.”

But convincing enough young people to enter the profession remains a challenge.