1. This minute should be read in conjunction with IMGP Minute 0002/2008.

2. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) recognises the critical role being played by Adult Education and Training (AET) centre governing bodies (CGBs) in the process of employing suitably qualified educators.

3. However, the following has come to the attention of the WCED:
3.1 In certain instances, AET CGBs continue to employ unqualified educators.
3.2 Some educators are not registered with the South African Council for Educators (SACE), as prescribed by the SACE Act, 2000 (Act 31 of 2000) and the AET Act, 2000 (Act 52 of 2000).
3.3 According to the AET Act, 2000 (Act 52 of 2000) only educators registered with SACE may be employed in a public centre.

4. CGBs are therefore advised to adhere to existing policy regarding the employment of educators at the public centres and their registration with SACE.

5. The following requirements are applicable for educator registration with SACE:
5.1 Full registration
5.1.1 An educator who applies to register with the Council must:

  • satisfy ethical standards contemplated in the Code of Professional Ethics for Educators; and
  • must have obtained:
    • a minimum post Matriculation teacher education qualification of three (3) years (M + 3 or REQV 13);
    • a two (2) year certificate in teacher education for the pre-primary phase (M+2 or REQV 12); or
    • any other qualification recognised by the Council for the purposes of registration.
5.1.2 A person who has not obtained a qualification as contemplated in 5.1, may be registered by SACE if the following was applicable to them before the date of the establishment of the Council:

  • they were a South African resident;
  • they satisfied the definition of an educator as defined in the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (Act 76 of 1998);
  • they were employed as a teacher by an education authority in South Africa, the self-governing territories or the independent states prior to the implementation of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, 1993 (Act 200 of 1993) or would have satisfied the requirements for employment as such by any of these authorities had such employment been sought;
  • they completed a course in teacher education at an institution recognised for that purpose, and would have been considered eligible for employment by any education authority in South Africa; or
  • they were registered by a professional teacher authority in South Africa.
5.1.3 Furthermore SACE may register a person who has not obtained a qualification as contemplated in 5.1, if immediately before the commencement of the SACE Act, 2000 (Act 31 of 2000), that person was a lawfully employed educator at a lawfully registered institution and was not subject to the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (Act 76 of 1998) but is now required to register under the Act.
5.2 Provisional registration
5.2.1 The Council may provisionally register a person who does not qualify under 5.1 if:

  • the Council has approved that the person be appointed to a teaching post on the grounds that no other suitably qualified teachers are available;
  • the Council is of the opinion that the person will obtain the required qualification within reasonable time; or
  • the Council is of the opinion that it is in the interests of the learners at an education institution.
5.2.2 Students in their final year of a qualification as contemplated in 5.1 may apply for provisional registration with the Council.
5.2.3 The Council may provisionally register a person who otherwise qualifies for registration if, at the time of applying for registration, that person is subject to employer disciplinary proceedings or criminal proceedings which involve conduct that may not satisfy the ethical standards contemplated in the code of Professional Ethics for Educators.
5.2.4 Practicing educators who were not subject to the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (Act 76 of 1998) but are required to register in terms of the Act are regarded as provisionally registered with the Council until the date determined by the Minister of Basic Education in terms of section 25 (8) of the said Act.
5.2.5 The Council may provisionally register a person employed under a learnership as contemplated by the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act 97 of 1998).
5.2.6 The Council may determine the period of validity for each provisional registration and may impose any reasonable conditions on a provisional registration.

6. All information pertaining to educator registration with SACE, together with registration fees and registration procedures can be obtained from the SACE website: http://www.sace.org.za

7. The SACE application form together with a form to motivate for provisional registration is attached. These forms are also obtainable from the SACE website and must be posted to the following address upon completion:

South African Council for Educators
Private Bag X127
Centurion
0046


8. Please bring the content of this minute to the attention of all concerned.


SIGNED: J H LYNERS
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: INSTITUTION DEVELOPMENT & CO-ORDINATION
DATE: 2014:05:02

Adult Basic Education and Training Act (Act 52 of 2000)  (size: 477 KB)
Employment of Educators Act (Act 76 of 1998)  (size: 160 KB)
Skills Development Act (Act 97 of 1998).  (size: 282 KB)
SACE Application form  (size: 88 KB)
Provisional registration form  (size: 23 KB)