NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES

ORAL REPLY
QUESTION 62
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30/04/2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10/2013)

Mr R A Lees (DA-KZN) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

(a) How many (i) unqualified educators are teaching at KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) schools in the 2013-14 financial year and (ii) learners are being taught by these unqualified educators and (b) by what date will all educators in KZN be correctly qualified for the positions they hold? CO196E

REPLY

(a)  (i) As at the end of January 2013, 6510 educators were recorded as unqualified on PERSAL. (ii) The number can only be estimated by using the learner educator ratio. Assuming an average learner educator ratio of 1:32 (average L:E ratio for 2012 in KwaZulu-Natal); and assuming that each teacher teaches only one class exclusively, that is, no two unqualified teachers teach the same set of learners it can be estimated that approximately 208 300 out of 2 800 000 (EMIS, 2012) learners are taught by unqualified educators in KwaZulu-Natal.

(b)  There are no set time frames. However, the number of unqualified educators has reduced drastically nationally over the last few years. KwaZulu-Natal has historically struggled to attract qualified educators, particularly in rural areas. Over the last few years the situation has been improving as the province absorbs the largest number of FunzaLushaka Bursary Scheme graduates. The number of graduates appointed in the province in 2013 was at 860 at the end of March 2013.

Issued by Parliament, May 9 2013

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter