Teacher Vacancy Deadline - MEC Appeals to Break Traditional Racial Patterns

Teachers wanting to apply for the 1, 301 vacancies to be filled during this year, need to do so before the cut-off date of Friday 24 August, Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore has urged. He has called on teachers and school governing bodies to break out of historical racial patterns when applying for, and filling the posts.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has issued Vacancy List 2 of 2007 to all schools at the beginning of this month. The vacancies include 49 principals, 59 deputies and 199 heads of departments of schools across the province.

The WCED head office normally receive at least 10,000, and sometimes up to 20,000 applications. Each application is carefully screened to make sure that the applicant qualifies for the relevant post. After the sifting, the applications are distributed to school governing bodies via district offices, and a process of interviews and short-listing commence.

In terms of the amended act, school governing bodies may nominate three candidates in order of preference, after which the Head of Department makes a final decision. The date of appointment with regard to posts advertised in this Vacancy List is 1 January 2008, or a later date as determined by the WCED.

In order to be eligible for appointment, all applicants must have at least a recognised three-year qualification, which must include appropriate training as a teacher. Registration with the South African Council of Educators (SACE) is compulsory.

Said MEC Dugmore: "I call on the best teachers who are committed to quality education to apply for these posts. I make a special appeal for applicants to break out of traditional racial patterns and apply for posts in all our schools.

"I would appeal for teachers from former model-C schools to apply for posts in historically disadvantaged school communities, and also for teachers from, for example Mitchell's Plain and Khayelitsha, to consider applying for posts in former Model C schools.

"The composition of the teaching corps at our schools must begin to reflect our diversity and employment equity. Our governing bodies must actively pursuit employment equity and diversity.

"This means they should go out and make real efforts to recruit teachers that promote diversity. I am convinced that current initiatives to improve conditions of service for teachers at all levels and especially at management level, makes the future of our teachers much brighter.

"My appeal is, study the Vacancy Circular 2 of 2007 and put your application in before Friday 24 August, we need quality teachers across all our schools in the Western Cape."

Applications must be submitted to:
The Head: Western Cape Education Department, Sifting Committee
For attention: Mrs N Solomons (Promotion Posts) or Mr NJ Bailey (Post Level 1 posts)
Private Bag X9114, CAPE TOWN, 8000 or delivered at head office, Grand Central, Cape Town