1. BACKGROUND
1.1 The national Minister of Education has indicated that she has received quite a large number of letters from Post Level 2 Heads of Department in schools, in which they express their dissatisfaction with the current policies regulating teachers' salaries. The general opinion is that Post Level 1 teachers are advantaged when compared to Post Level 2 teachers. They consider the introduction of Senior and Master Teachers and the possibility of these teachers progressing to Salary Level 9 as problematic and counterproductive.
1.2 The National Minister of Education has therefore requested that teachers be informed of the rationale behind the new measures so that they have a better understanding of them.
1.3 New conditions of service are negotiated and agreed to in the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) between the national Department of Education (the Employer) and the representatives of the unions (the Employee Parties). It is therefore not possible for the national Department of Education to unilaterally implement any new measures that affect the existing conditions of service.

2. SALARIES APPLICABLE TO POST LEVEL 1 TEACHERS AND POST LEVEL 2 TEACHERS BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF SENIOR AND MASTER TEACHERS

The following table indicates the salary levels that used to apply to Post Level 1 and 2 teachers, and clearly indicates the difference in salaries that were applicable to fully qualified and under-qualified teachers:

POSTS APPLICABLE SALARY LEVELS
 REQV 10REQV 11REQV 12REQV 13REQV 14+
Teacher
Lecturer
Principal 1		33, 4 & 5 4, 5 & 6 6, 7 & 87 & 8
Education Specialist
Head of Department (HOD)		5678 & 98 & 9

3. NEW POLICIES AFFECTING THE POSITION OF POST LEVEL 1 TEACHERS
3.1 ELRC COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT NO. 4 OF 2003
The current post and salary structure was implemented on 1 April 2003. This was done in accordance with an agreement between the employer and employee parties, and is referred to as ELRC Collective Agreement No. 4 of 2003. This new structure provided for the translation of Post Level 1 teachers, who were already being remunerated on Salary Level 8, to senior teachers. Senior teachers were then given an additional notch with effect from 1 January 2004, whilst those already on Salary Level 8, Notch 6 or higher did not receive any additional notches. The position of senior teacher is not a promotion post, and these positions are not advertised. A Senior Teacher is a Post Level 1 teacher with the ability to give guidance to less experienced teachers. All teachers who qualified received an annual notch increment with effect from 1 July 2004, but the senior teachers who received that usual annual notch increment with effect from 1 January 2004, did not qualify for an additional notch on that date.
3.2 ELRC COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT NO. 5 OF 2006
ELRC Collective Agreement 5 of 2006 provides for the introduction of master teachers on Post Level 1 and for them to be remunerated on Salary Level 9 with effect from 1 July 2005. This new provision introduces the possibility of Post Level 1 teachers progressing to Salary Level 9, whereas previously they could progress only to the maximum of Salary Level 8. The position of master teacher is also not a promotion post and such positions can never be advertised. Salary Levels 6, 7, 8 and 9 are therefore now applicable to fully qualified teachers with REQV 13 on Post Level 1.

4. PROMOTION POST TO POST LEVEL 2 (HOD)
4.1 The post of Head of Department (HOD) is a promotion post on Post Level 2 and qualifying Post Level 1 teachers have to apply for these positions. HODs are remunerated on Salary Levels 8 and 9. Both Salary Levels 8 and 9 are therefore applicable to teachers on both Post Levels 1 and 2. When being promoted to Post Level 2, a teacher progresses to at least the minimum of Salary Level 8, whereas a teacher who is already on Salary Level 8 receives an increase of 3 notches. Therefore, the sooner a teacher is promoted, the higher the increase he or she receives and the sooner he or she starts progressing along the higher applicable salary level.
4.2 The salary position of a teacher who is promoted to Post Level 2 can never be lower than Salary Level 8. Any qualifying Post Level 1 teacher with at least 3 years' experience may apply for such vacant positions, and may progress to that salary, irrespective of whether he or she was previously on Salary Level 6 or 7. If a teacher is already being remunerated on Salary Level 8 or 9, that teacher will receive 3 additional notches in recognition of the promotion.

5. THE IMPACT OF IMPROVED QUALIFICATIONS ON SALARY PROGRESSION

It must be noted that salary progression depends on various factors, i.e. the teacher's qualifications when appointed, the stage at which he or she obtained a Relative Evaluation Qualification Value (REQV) 14 or higher, and how soon he or she is promoted. It takes quite a number of years for a Post Level 1 teacher to reach Salary Level 8 (the starting salary level applicable to Post Level 2 teachers). A Post Level 1 teacher on Salary Level 9 is a very experienced teacher who receives the same salary as an HOD. The rationale behind the implementation of this measure is that such a teacher will not easily be tempted to apply for a Post Level 2 post or a post outside of the Department of Education, thus ensuring that teachers with valuable experience stay in the classroom.

6. The WCED invites schools to contact the Department should they feel the need for a workshop to be held on the subject matter of this minute.
7. Kindly bring this circular to the attention of all concerned and request them to sign and date an acknowledgement of receipt of the document.


SIGNED: J.H. HURTER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2007:04:17