Statement by Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore

I am pleased to announce that, for the third year in a row now the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will increase the total number of teaching posts in the province by 500 next year to 30,872 at a cost of R83.5m.

It represents the highest increase in the number of posts over this period. This means that teaching posts in the province have increased by 1,157 at a total cost of R182.9m since 2005 when the basket of teaching posts was 29,715.

As the MEC I have to determine the total number of posts based primarily on what we can afford, taking into account the curriculum and redress needs of schools as well.

The Head of Department is currently involved with consultations with school governing bodies and teacher unions on the basket of posts and will later release further details on how the department will distribute these posts once these consultations are completed.

The total number of learners in the Western Cape has stabilised between 919,000 and 920,000 over the past two years, in Grades 1 to 12. Despite this trend, the WCED has continued to increase the total number of teaching posts to address specific challenges, especially those requiring redress.

While I agree that this allocation does not make any significant impact on our teacher-learner ratio, which is currently 39:1 for primary schools and 35:1 for high schools, the situation cannot be described as a ‘crisis’.

We continually have to balance the demands of personnel and non-personnel expenditure and the declaration of an extra 500 posts was the best scenario, which could be managed for 2007.

I will continue to raise the issue of additional resources for education within the overall pressures faced by our provincial budget.

In 2005, budgetary constraints indicated that the province may have to shed 1,900 teaching posts in 2005. In the end, the WCED was able to increase the basket of posts by 365 posts, thanks to intensive consultations within the provincial government.

In 2006, the WCED increased the total number of posts by a further 292 posts. By this stage, learner numbers had stablised, which meant that the department could allocate posts creatively.

This included using the funds for 100 of these posts to appoint 510 Teaching Assistants in poor schools to assist Foundation Phase teachers in primary schools, for 2006. The WCED has now increased the total number of teaching posts in the Western Cape by a further 500 posts for 2007.

The WCED will inform schools about their specific establishments in September, once the WCED has completed consultations with school governing body associations and the unions, subject to any further consultations that may be required to finalise decisions on post distribution.

Breakdown of increases since 2005:

  Year     Additional posts     Cost per post     Total cost

  2005         365                 R147 000         R53.6m

  2006         292                 R157 000         R45.8m

  2007         500                 R167 000         R83.5m


  Total      1,157                                 R182.9m

For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi:  082 550 3938, or gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za.