WCED says it is doing all it can to save teacher posts, as political parties slams job cuts

Political parties in the Western Cape have slammed the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) for cutting more than 2 400 teacher posts due to budget constraints.

According to the GOOD Party, learners from schools in less privileged areas continue to struggle due to the lack of resources.

 ‘’This glaring failure to ensure access to education raises serious questions about the department’s preparedness and priorities. The looming teacher cuts only threaten the ‘maturing’ education system further. Overcrowded classrooms, overstretched teachers, and a lack of individual attention will inevitably lead to vulnerable children slipping through the cracks,’’ said Brett Herron, Good Party’s Secretary General.

‘’The WCED’s decision to slash teaching posts in the face of mounting challenges is not just shortsighted; it’s a recipe for disaster. Meanwhile, the WCED’s budget remains an enigma… The handling of funds is murky at best and deliberately misleading at worst. The GOOD party demands answers and immediate action. The WCED must halt teacher cuts and prioritise placement. The clock is ticking, and the consequences of inaction are too severe to ignore,’’ he added.

The Economic Freedom fighters (EFF) in the Western Cape has called on the WCED to halt the planned teacher layoffs.

‘’The layoff of over 2000 teachers exacerbates the already severe teacher shortages, leading to increased instability and low morale among the teachers. These cuts have a direct negative impact on the learner-teacher ratio and the quality of education. The financial austerity measures, which disproportionately affect the poorest communities, continue to undermine our children’s futures,’’ said Unathi Ntame, EFF Western Cape chairperson.

Meanwhile, the South African Democratic Teacher Union (SADTU) is planning a major protest in February. The union held an education stakeholders meeting at its offices in Belville South on Tuesday to discuss the provincial budget cuts

‘’Look at the schools where the cuts are happening. You will find that the schools are most affected are the poor and working class schools. We will challenge this. The Das action in the Western Cape and the national minister for not doing the proper oversight,’’ said Khalid Sayed, ANC Western Cape spokesperson and Shadow MEC for Education.

The WCED says it is doing all it can to save teacher posts.

‘’I said that we would fight for our teachers, and we continue to do so. Through further budget reprioritisation, we are in a position to make up to 477 new growth posts available to schools with a significant increase in learner numbers in 2025, and provide staff for the new schools we have completed,’’ said David Maynier, Western Cape education MEC.

‘’Our Head of Department has sent a letter to schools in this regard, the allocation of these posts will be based on the data provided by our 10th day SNAP survey, which confirms the number of new learners that have arrived to take up the places that they have been offered in our schools. While this decision will have further implications for our budget deficit, it is crucial that our new and existing schools have the resources they need to accommodate additional learners in 2025,’’ he added.

 

Done by: Mitchum George