Question NW3727 to the Minister of Basic Education
28 November 2023 - NW3727
Mhlongo, Ms N to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) Whether her department is responsible for vacant posts in schools; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what total number of teaching vacancies exist in Mpumalanga as at 31 October 2023; (2) what total number of posts of the specified number of vacancies have been advertised; (3) whether she has found that the policy to only employ graduates funded from the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme will still apply with regard to the advertised posts in Mpumalanga; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details
Reply:
1. Section 5 of the Employment of Educators Act (EEA), 1998, gives the powers to create posts for public schools to the Member of Executive Council (MEC) responsible for education in that province and further gives the powers to distribute such posts to schools to the Head of Department. This is on the condition that both the creation and the distribution of the posts are effected in terms of the national norms. Section 6 of the EEA further gives the powers to appoint educators at school to the Head of Department. The Honourable Member is kindly requested to direct the question to the Mpumalanga Department of Education.
2. The Honourable Member is requested to direct the question to the Mpumalanga Department of Education.
3. Paragraph 1 of Annexure A of Collective Agreement 4 of 2018 concluded at the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) provides for an order of priority in terms of the appointment into vacant post-level 1 posts. It provides that the appointments in vacant posts at school level must follow the order that prioritises first-time appointments that have a contractual obligation with the employer, and this covers both the Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme recipients and recipients of any other state bursary scheme; followed by any other first-time applicant; and lastly qualified unemployed educators. It is therefore expected that the Mpumalanga Department of Education will comply with the said collective agreement.