Paul Esterhuizen, Chief Executive Officer of Education NGO, School-Days sounded a warning that there will soon be a shortage of teachers in South Africa.
Esterhuizen says if the South African Government does not make the education sector more attractive for young people the country’s education will face a huge shortage of teachers in years to com.
GOVERNMENT WARNED TO MAKE TEACHING ATTRACTIVE TO PREVENT A SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS
This South African entrepreneur and philanthropist says budgets overall in education are not increasing at the rate at which teachers’ salaries have been increasing, as reported by EYEWITNESS NEWS.
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“They are running at a deficit and are unable to hire more teachers.”
PAUL ESTERHUIZEN
NGO SAYS TEACHERS’ SALARIES NOT ON PAR WITH EDUCATION BUDGED
Esterhuizen said currently in public schools there is a ratio of 30 children per classroom for every teacher and it is rising.
This NGO boss warns that this will be even higher with the looming shortage of teachers in years to come.
“We are all very aware that in the next five years, in the next 10 years literally from here forward, we are going to be having more than 50% of our current teacher population retiring.
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“Are we developing enough or aware of having more teachers coming to plug these gaps or having more younger teachers coming in?”
PAUL ESTERHUIZEN
A Pretoria school teacher, who wants to remain anonymous, says schools are already experiencing a shortage of teachers.
She added that their classrooms in townships and predominantly coloured areas are already filled to capacity.
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According to her they sit with between 38 and 45 learners per class which makes teaching very unattractive and almost impossible.
She added that in some classroom there are not even enough tables and chairs for the children, let alone enough classrooms as schools are bursting out of its seams.
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The South African reported earlier that The Mpumalanga Head of Department Lucy Moyane said they need at least 383 schools to cater for the increasing population of the province,
