WCED Increases Educator Posts for 2013

Media Statement by Donald Grant, Minister of Education

The statutory process pertaining to the basket of posts for 2011 has now been completed.

I am pleased to announce that after very careful deliberation and consultation with School Governing Body Associations and Educator Unions, 154 additional teaching posts have been allocated to schools in comparison with 2011.

This will bring the total basket of teaching posts in the Western Cape to 31 091.

In terms of the relevant legislation, it is the responsibility of the provincial minister, after consultation with educator unions and governing body organisations, to determine the number of teaching posts that the department can afford in terms of its budget allocation.

This year I had to make this decision in the context of a very difficult financial climate. Therefore, given the economic and financial realities facing the government of the Western Cape, we are pleased to have been able to make available an increase in the number of new educator posts.

I am also delighted that we have been able to complete the process earlier than in previous years and well in advance of the National Department of Basic Education's required completion date on the 30th of September each year.

By completing the process so early, we can now ensure that all schools are informed of their teacher allocation for 2012 by the week of 27 August. This is three weeks earlier than in 2012.

This will enable schools to plan and budget accordingly for the 2013 school year.

It will also give schools ample opportunity to appeal their allocation, if reasonable grounds exist to do so.

I am pleased to announce that the majority of the additional 154 posts have been allocated to the Foundation Phase and Special Needs Education.

The average learner-educator ratio in the province for 2013 will be:

• Provincial = 1:35.38
• Secondary = 1:33.76
• Primary = 1:36.36

As this is an average, it does not mean that this will be the ratio in every school.

I would like to thank all the organisations that participated in the process. Their input has helped to achieve a very favorable outcome, in a financially sound and sustainable manner.

I am fully confident that we have achieved an optimal balance between financially responsible planning and the protection of teaching posts. The additional teaching posts for schools in 2013 is a testimony to how best practice can be applied to ensure that we achieve our overarching objective of providing a quality education to all the learners of the Western Cape.