Thousands of teaching vacancies unfilled in KZN

THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has been accused of failing to fill thousands of vacant positions, including teacher posts, in an effort to cut costs.

This is according to the National Teachers Union (Natu) and opposition party, the DA.

It is estimated that there are between 2 000 and 3 000 vacant posts in the province including teachers and support staff.

According to the department’s management, there are 2 041 vacant posts, said chairperson of the finance portfolio committee Sipho Nkosi.

DA MPL and spokesperson on Education Dr Rishigen Viranna said pupils were suffering as a result of budgets cuts.

He said the department had currently overspent by R387 million .

“The department has stopped filling vital teacher posts once they become vacant. This has taken place at both primary and high schools in the province and is having a major impact, particularly on matrics.”

He said the situation had potentially affected hundreds of schools.

Allen Thompson, the deputy president of Natu, said they estimated about 3 000 educator based positions were vacant.

He said the union had been pleading with the leadership of the department to fill all the vacant positions in order to maximise on the efficiency and effectiveness of school operations.

The department’s Sihle Mlotshwa said that while they would need to investigate the allegations, he denied that vacant posts were not being filled because of cost cutting measures.

“They need to state why they associate vacant posts with austerity measures,” he said.

Department of Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said Minister Angie Motshekga would send a multi-disciplinary team to assist the department to deal with its financial problems and human resource management.

“The KwaZulu-Natal Education Department is the biggest in the country, therefore it is fundamentally important that we do everything possible to assist the province to self-correct and get on track to being a financially healthy,” he said.