1. Section 6B of the Employment of Educators Act (EEA), 1998 (Act 76 of 1998) provides for the conversion of the temporary appointments of educators to permanent appointments.

2. A temporary educator is an educator who is currently appointed to an approved substantive vacant Post Level 1 post in a temporary capacity for a closed period. This definition does not apply to educators appointed to vacant substantive promotion posts in an acting capacity, or to substitutes appointed in the place of permanently employed educators who are absent from duty, for whatever reason. Please also refer to paragraph 10 hereunder.

Educators, who have already had the opportunity of an extensive career in education, e.g. those who have retired, retired early, been discharged because of ill-health or taken a severance package of whatever nature, are excluded from the measures contained in this circular.

Posts which were advertised in Vacancy List 2/2009 for permanent filling, with effect from 1 January 2010, are also excluded from the measures contained in this circular. However, where the WCED has formally decided not to fill a post as advertised in Vacancy List 2/2009, such a post may also be considered for permanent filling in terms of the measures contained in this circular.


3. The conversion of the temporary appointment to a permanent appointment is at the discretion of the head of a provincial education department.

4. In this regard it is very important to note that the WCED subscribes to the principle of open competition when it comes to the permanent filling of posts on its establishment and the establishments of institutions under its control. To this end, posts are regularly advertised in the national newspapers (in the case of office-based posts) and vacancy lists (in the case of office-based posts and posts at educational institutions).

5. In consultation with the educator unions represented on the Provincial Education Labour Relations Council, the WCED has decided on the following criteria for the conversion of the appointment status of temporary educators to permanent in terms of Section 6B of the EEA, 1998 with effect from 1 January 2010:
5.1 The permanent appointment must be made to a vacant substantive Post Level 1 post and the post must be reflected in the new educator staff establishment of the school for 2010;
5.2 The educator concerned must be temporarily in the current employ of the WCED, with his or her date of appointment being on or before 1 July 2009.
5.3 The educator must:
  • be professionally qualified for the education profession;
  • meet the inherent requirements of the post in which his or her conversion of appointment will be made; and
  • be registered with SACE.
5.4 The permanent appointment must be supported by the school governing body.

6. The due date for the submission of applications is 16 March 2010.

7. As this is an extraordinary arrangement for those educators who already occupy vacant substantive posts, employment equity directives will not apply to these appointments.

8. Temporary educators who wish to apply for the conversion of their temporary employment to permanent employment in terms of Section 6B of the EEA, 1998, must submit a completed DPE 1 form (Application for Appointment Form) and a letter of motivation, via the school governing body, to the WCED. Applications must be sent to the appropriate WCED Head Office address, as indicated in paragraphs 4 and 9 of Internal Human Capital Administration Minute 0006/2009, dated 20 April 2009.

9. Kindly note that this offer to convert temporary appointments to permanent appointments is a once-only opportunity and that applications received after the due date will not be considered.

10. Serving substitute educators may also be considered for permanent appointment, in terms of the measures set out in this circular, when they are appointed to vacant substantive posts.

11. Principals are requested to ensure that this circular is brought to the attention of their school governing bodies and all educators on their staffs, especially those appointed in a temporary and substitute capacity.

12. This circular is applicable to ordinary/ and special public schools.

13. The co-operation of everybody involved will ensure the successful management of this process.


SIGNED: PA VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2010:02:15