Question NW2525 to the Minister of Basic Education
13 September 2018 - NW2525
Kalyan, Ms SV to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)What (a) is the vacancy rate for principals at primary schools in each province, (b) are the reasons for the vacancies and (c) period have the positions been vacant; (2) what (a) number of disputes in respect of appointments of principals have been declared in each province, (b) are the main reasons for the disputes and (c) is the envisaged time frame for resolution of the disputes?
Reply:
- (a) The table below shows the vacancy rate for principals at primary schools in each province
|
PROVINCE |
NUMBER OF VACANCIES AS AT THE END OF JULY 2018 |
NUMBER OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS |
VACANCY RATE |
|
EASTERN CAPE |
370 |
2 559 |
14% |
|
FREE STATE |
19 |
644 |
3% |
|
GAUTENG |
76 |
1 377 |
6% |
|
KWAZULU-NATAL |
356 |
3 787 |
9% |
|
LIMPOPO |
252 |
2 407 |
10% |
|
MPUMALANGA |
77 |
1 013 |
8% |
|
NORTH CAPE |
33 |
305 |
11% |
|
NORTH WEST |
71 |
943 |
8% |
|
WESTERN CAPE |
147 |
983 |
15% |
|
NATIONAL |
1 401 |
14 018 |
10% |
Source: PERSAL, July 2018
(b) Vacancies occur at schools throughout the year mainly as a result of natural attrition with key drivers being resignations, retirements and to a lesser extent deaths. Also to note is that Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) advertise and fill promotional posts, at most, twice a year. Acting appointments are made in promotional posts as soon as the post becomes vacant. In order to address workload challenges, PEDs make temporary appointment against vacant promotional posts where necessary.
(c) About 41% of the posts, as at the end of July 2018, were six (6) months or less vacant; 19% vacant of 7-12 months, 7% up to 24 months and 33% longer than 24 months. Of the posts that were vacant for more than 12 months, about 65% were those in small schools of between one (1) and three (3) teachers some of them on the verge of being closed due to decreasing or consistently low enrolment.
2. The question is more relevant to the provincial administration because it is the responsibility of the Employer, who in terms of section 3(1)(b) of the Employment of Educators Act is the Head of the Provincial Education Department, to ensure that vacancies are filled and to attend to any dispute that arises at the provincial level.
The question should therefore be forwarded to the relevant Employers for details and response.