DBE does not know if teachers are qualified to teach the subjects they do
20 August 2015
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) does not know if teachers in school classrooms are in fact qualified to teach the subjects they are currently teaching.
This has emerged in replies to questions submitted by the DA, in which the department admits it is still “in the process” of capturing the full profiles of all educators in South Africa. These profiles include the qualifications, experience and current employment of the teachers.
This is a cause for serious concern. In order to provide quality education to all our children, we need to be able to make sure that our teachers are properly qualified. If we do not have this information, it will be impossible to make the necessary interventions to help our teachers perform better, and ensure that our children receive the education they need to pursue lives they value.
The DA will accordingly appeal to the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, urging her to acknowledge that this is a problem that needs addressing and to have StatsSA collect and report on the data timeously and effectively so that the necessary steps can be taken as soon as possible.