The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is expecting strong demand for teaching posts this year, in line with experience in previous years.

The following are answers to questions put by the Cape Argus on the issue of unemployed teachers and related issues provided on 27 January 2009:

1. Can you please assist me with figures of unemployed, qualified teachers in the Western Cape? If you can, can you please state the reasons of them being unemployed?

The WCED receives about 265 applications a month from unemployed teachers looking for work. Most of these are teachers from other countries, mainly in southern Africa.

Our Client Services Division maintains a database of unemployed teachers and helps to match and place them to available posts for temporary staff.

Client Services receives about eight requests from schools every month for temporary staff. The division is usually successful in meeting these requests. Schools often find staff themselves by advertising temporary or governing body posts.

At the moment, we don't have complete statistics on the number of unemployed teachers because they do not necessarily report to the department, nor do they always let us know when they find employment.

The department has commissioned a major study of teacher supply and demand in the Western Cape, which will throw more light on this issue. A consortium of universities has undertaken the study and will report within the next few weeks.

The WCED publishes vacancy lists for permanent posts twice a year, but these do not necessarily reflect teacher shortages, because our schools and the department usually employ temporary teachers in vacant posts until they are filled permanently.

We experience strong demand for teaching posts in the Western Cape. For example, the WCED received 19 537 applications for 1 440 posts advertised in the February 2008, and 31 269 applications for 3 811 teaching posts for posts advertised August last year. Many applicants applied for more than one post, but we are still pleased with the response that we get to our vacancy lists.

2. Is there a lack of jobs for newly qualified teachers in the Western Cape this year?

No. The WCED gives preference to newly-qualified teachers when making appointments. However, we cannot guarantee that the posts are located where the teacher wishes to work or live.

3. At what age should old teachers retire to make posts for new teachers?

The compulsory retirement age for teachers is 65.

4. Is it compulsory for teachers to stop teaching at the age of 60?

No. See above.

5. Do the rural areas have vacant posts more than the urban areas?

The WCED is currently compiling its first vacancy list for 2009, due for publication in February. We'll be better placed to tell where demand is greatest, when the list is completed.

6. Does the WCED control the number of children per classroom especially in the primary schools?

We work towards learner: teacher ratios of 33:1 in high schools and 37:1 in primary schools.

We have increased the post basket steadily in recent years, even though learner numbers have stabilised. Learner: teacher ratios have improved slightly as a result.

We have used ad hoc posts to improve ratios in our poorest schools, while also reducing ratios in our poorest primary schools by allocating more teaching posts to the Foundation Phase.

7. Lastly, would you say small class sizes benefit children in any way?

Yes. For this reason, the WCED is paying special attention to improving learner: teacher ratios in the Foundation Phase in poor schools.

We are also employing about 500 teaching assistants in poor schools in a pilot project to support Foundation Phase teachers in poor schools.

We have to start at the beginning to improve literacy and numeracy and future through-put rates.