Teachers stuck in Zim are replaced

GATEWAY: HOME AFFAIRS HELPING 16 TO RETURN TO SA

Department says numbers are overstated and those in cold on unpaid leave.

The Limpopo department of basic education has refuted the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) claim that “400 gateway teachers” working in the province’s schools could not report for duty when schools reopened as a result of Covid-19 lockdown regulations.

The DA yesterday called on Limpopo MEC for education Polly Boshielo to ask Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to allow the teachers to enter the country in order to enhance the culture of learning and teaching.

“Our concerns stem from a recent education portfolio committee meeting where it was revealed that the province has about 400 gateway subject teachers, some of which are from Zimbabwe, that cannot enter ... due to cross-border travel restrictions,” said the DA.

Gateway subjects refer to mathematics, physical science, economics, agricultural sciences, geography and accounting, which are considered critical for the country’s development and economic growth.

The department of basic eduction said the numbers were blown out of proportion.

There was no problem with teacher shortages in Limpopo due to people not yet returning from neighbouring countries as they had been replaced, it said.

Basic education Limpopo provincial spokesperson Tidimalo Chuene said the department employed 379 foreign teachers, doing mathematics and physical science in secondary schools.

Twenty were in Zimbabwe due to the national lockdown.

“The department of home affairs has thus far assisted four to return to South Africa. Sixteen are still not back, however, processes are underway to help them,” Chuene said.

“These [teachers] are appointed in temporary posts due to the nature of their citizenship. They are paid a normal salary... Those who are not yet back are deemed to be on unpaid leave.

“The department has since stopped their salaries and substituted them in an endeavour to ensure the culture of learning and teaching goes back to its national agenda.”

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