Question NW2280 to the Minister of Basic Education

Reply:

(a) What is the Vetting Process Followed by the SA Council for Educators when an Individual applies for a Teaching Certificate?

SACE RESPONSE

Firstly, all registration applicants are required to declare their fitness-to-practice status when they apply as follows:

“I declare that all information provided (including copies) is complete and correct. I also hereby give SACE permission to check if there are no previous convictions against me by any tribunal. I understand that any false information supplied could lead to my application being disqualified or my de-registration from the roll, and I subscribe to the Code of Conduct of Professional Ethics”.

Where an applicant has disclosed any misconduct case or criminal record, the Fit-to-Teach Hearings are held prior to any processing of the application form.

Secondly, currently the fitness-to-teach process is assessed against the submission of the Police Clearance Certificate by the foreign educators. The authenticity of the police clearance is verified against the SAPS online portal available on its website.

Finally, as indicated previously, the process for the submission of the Police Clearance by all South African applicants, will commence on 1 January 2019 onwards as prioritised by Council.

(b) are any certificates issued on the spot without (i) vetting or (ii) verification of qualifications?

Certificates of registration are issued in line with the current Council’s Fitness-to-Practice measures as outlined above.

All these measures in (a) and (b) will be enhanced further, once the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development’s register of sexual offenders is available and the necessary systems and logistical arrangements are in place to facilitate the registration turn-around time process.