Statement by Education MEC, Cameron Dugmore

In response to media reports about the appointment of teachers, I can assure the public that the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) prepared fully for the appointment process this year and that many officials worked many hours of overtime to adhere to deadlines where we received the correct information from schools on time.

The simple facts are as follows: the WCED issued a circular on the appointment process on 2 December 2005, which set clear deadlines for key stages in the process. The circular provided plenty of notice for planning purposes.

Deadlines included a date for submitting information for the vacancy list (24 May 2006). Unfortunately, very few schools met this deadline, and we extended it to 23 June 2006 to accommodate them. WCED officials worked overtime to complete the vacancy list by 31 July 2006, to bring the process back on track.

The closing date for applications was 22 August 2006. A total of 25,531 candidates applied for 2 130 posts on the vacancy list. According to the timetable, schools had to submit nominations by 20 October 2006. We received only 101 nominations by this date.

Again, we had to extend the deadline and to date, we have received only 876 nominations, of which 735 have been finalised; 67 could not be finalised because of outstanding documents; and 32 are cases in dispute. Schools have still not provided nominations for 591 posts.

Thus all schools who have submitted nominations in time will be dealt with before the end of the year, except those in dispute. We have advised schools who have submitted late nominations that we can defer these appointments to next year.

In the meantime, we will assist schools in appointing teachers in contract positions where necessary, pending permanent appointments, as we have done in the past. The department informs schools on a continuous basis as and when appointments are finalised.

We kept schools fully informed of the process via circulars. Meanwhile, we should note that the existence of a vacancy list does not necessarily mean that learners are without teachers. Contract teachers hold posts on the vacancy list, pending permanent appointments.

We appeal to schools to work with us to ensure that we fill as many posts as possible with permanent appointments, in everyone’s interests. I want to thank those schools who have complied.

While both schools and the department have experienced pressure to conclude this process, we can assure the public that the WCED has been working hard to a very clear plan. We will continue to work with schools to ensure that teachers are in every classroom by the start of the 2007 school year.

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