EC’s temp teachers fear job losses

TEMPORARY teachers appointed by the Eastern Cape department of education will not be going back to class when schools reopen next week.

This is because the department did not renew their contracts which ended last term.

This means that when schools reopen, those where temporary teachers had been placed might have staff shortages.

The temporary teachers, some of whom are referred to as “walk-ins”, said they were appointed at the end of January to meet the shortfall of teachers in the province.

They said the initial contract was from January to March and was renewed in April until June.

The teachers, placed at different schools in the province, said they hoped the department would renew their contracts as the vacancies they occupied were still not filled.

However, the department of education said “walk-in” teachers were well aware that there was no intention of extending their contracts and the department was in the process of filling the vacancies.

Education provincial spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said the department had instructed district directors and principals to establish how many teachers were needed to fill vacant posts.

“The district directors and principals have until the end of July to give us the figure.

“When determining the figures developments such as rationalisation and the merging of school districts have to be considered because there is no point in placing teachers at a school that will be closed,” said Mtima.

The department has announced that 136 non-viable schools will be closed this year as part of the rationalisation programme.

Said Mtima: “We advertised the posts and shortlisted the applicants.

“Those teachers holding temporary positions were also welcome to apply and be considered for the permanent posts.”

However, the temporary teachers spoken to said no bulletins had been issued for post level 1 positions and only senior posts were advertised. —