Parliament, Wednesday, 4 September 2024 – The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries, Mr Makhi Feni, has raised concerns about the pending educator job cuts in the Western Cape provincial government, as announced by the Western Cape Department of Education.
Mr Feni said the matter is being handled in an alarmist manner and was badly timed. “It seems we are sacrificing educators for not having funding, which is unfortunate and a worse form of transgression of the labour laws, especially when unemployment in our country is at the levels it is on,” he said.
Last week, the Department of Education in the Western Cape announced that it was cutting 2 400 educator posts from 2025 due to severe budget cuts. The department noted it had a budget shortfall of R3.8 billion, and that this action is necessary to remain financially stable.
Mr Feni said the Western Cape Department of Education should exhaust negotiation channels. “The correct approach would have been to let the new minister settle in the office and allow her to make these announcements. The minister would normally brief the committee on her plans, and the impact they are likely to have in the sector.”
He added: “South Africa is now sitting with a situation where such a crucial sector aspect is communicated to journalists and the media by a province, without having examined different approaches. The consequence of this approach can only be instability. This should have been adequately workshopped with unions and other important stakeholders in the education sector, and not merely inform stakeholders, as seems to have happened.”
The Western Cape position concerned the committee, especially in light of the report on teacher shortages by 2030. “We implore the department to hold back on whatever plans they have until the DBE has clarified. At all times communication should be clear and communicated to the relevant authority,” emphasised Mr Feni.
He said the committee would appreciate a briefing on this matter before its implementation.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, MR MAKHI FENI.
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Name: Mr Sibongile Maputi
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Email: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
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