Teachers protest job losses

Nelson Mandela once said: “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”

But, said John Pointorico Claude Smit (

empowerment through education and today’s reality of 2 407 teacher’s posts being cut by the end of the year due to a shortfall of R3,8 billion in the Western Cape Education Department’s budget received from national government. A total of 117 teaching posts in the Overberg will be cut.

“The anticipated increase in class sizes – potentially reaching 45-55 students per class – will have significant consequences, making it increasingly challenging for teachers to provide persona-lised attention and support to each student. This compromises quality education and hinders learners’ ability to thrive academically and personally.

“One important question is: Are classrooms designed to accommodate 50 learners, and would these politicians who are making these decisions put their children in these overcrowded classrooms?”

Smit said the WCED’s stated goals of delivering high-quality education and preparing students for future success seem increasingly hollow in light of the job cuts. “This situation not only affects the learners currently enrolled but also has long-term implications for the community’s educational landscape. We are advocating not only for our current students and staff, but also for the future generations who will be impacted by these cuts. We urge the WCED to reconsider these budgetary decisions and prioritise maintaining manageable class sizes and supporting our dedicated educators. The quality of education and the future success of our learners depend on it.”

Smit is one of scores of teachers who have expressed their concern about the cuts leading to a decline in the quality of education, lower pass rates and possibly a higher drop-out rate.

Teachers of Mount Pleasant Primary, which reportedly faces the loss of 15 teachers, once again took to the streets last week to protest the job losses. Tamlin May, one of the teachers who face unemployment next year as their contracts won’t be renewed, stated: “I and so many other contact workers have been dealing with the frustration of not being converted to permanent employees. I strongly believe those who have served the school for more than three months – some who have been in contract posts for years – should have been made permanent. Away with the cuts, invest in teachers.”

The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) announced on Friday that the contracts of hundreds of suitably qualified contract educators in vacant substantive posts will be converted into permanent status by 15 November 2024. This came after a settlement agreement was reached between the union and the WCED under the auspices of the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC).

Sadtu provincial secretary Sibongile Kwazi called on the contract teachers to ensure their schools upload on e-recruitment all the necessary documents to facilitate the conversion process as a matter of urgency. “School principals are also expected to cooperate to save the jobs of the contract educators and ensure that they become permanent,” she said.

Education MEC David Maynier explained that some permanent teachers will be asked to move to another school where there is a suitable vacancy. He confirmed that schools for Learners with Special Educational Needs are exempt from the job cuts.

Funds to provide meals to more than 535 000 vulnerable children each day and transport nearly 68 000 learners to school will also not be affected. It was also decided not to cut funding used by schools to pay daily expenses to prevent a situation where schools cannot write exams because they can’t afford paper, or have their electricity disconnected because they can’t pay the bill. Maynier called on the Government of National Unity to ensure all children receive quality education.

“We ask political leaders, teachers’ unions, activists and parents to fight alongside us, rather than against us, for basic education and for our teachers, so that together we can deliver quality education for every child.”

Read John Pointorico Claude Smit’s complete and insightful letter on News24.