Far-reaching consequences await the Western Cape if more than 2 400 teaching jobs are to be cut, warns Cape Forum

30 August 2024 

The Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) decision to cut more than 2 400 teaching posts next year will have far-reaching consequences for the province and will not only adversely affect the education sector but also community development, crime rates and economic growth. This is the warning from the civil rights organisation Cape Forum laid out in its four-point risk analysis in response to the WCED’s notice sent to schools in this province on Tuesday regarding the decision that was taken due to a budget deficit of R3,8 billion. If this cut continues, approximately 7% of the province’s approximately 36 000 teaching positions will be at risk. 

Cape Forum already met with the WCED in January and April this year to advocate, among other things, for greater independence from and reduced state control of schools. The organisation maintains that a federal approach to education in this province could have mitigated the impact of the WCED’s drastic decision.

The quality of education will bear the brunt of the planned cuts, according to Bernard Pieters, Head of Community Activation at Cape Forum. Cape Forum conducted an analysis to determine the impact the cuts will have. This is contained in a four-point risk analysis that will be submitted to the WCED.

“Larger classes and less individual attention are going to be learners’ fate in less affluent schools in particular,” explains Pieters. “This despite the fact that the WCED indicated in its 2024/2025 Performance Plan that the demand for education in the province is increasing to such an extent that a minimum of 1 440 additional classrooms are required to meet the need.”

Statistics cited in the same document show that more than 404 800 learners in this province received instruction in overcrowded classes last year. This amounts to approximately 34% of all Western Cape grade 1 to 12 learners, including learners with special educational needs, who are already placed in classes with 40 learners or more. According to the WCED, the generally accepted standard for class sizes is a maximum of 37 learners per class.

In addition to the impact on education, the consequences of this decision will trickle down to other levels, including community development, crime and economic growth in the province.      

“Urgent and joint action and planning are now essential in order to act in the interest of education in the Western Cape and communities in the province and to bridge the budget deficits,” emphasises Pieters.

Meanwhile, Cape Forum today undertook to resume discussions with the WCED and involve other interested institutions with the aim of considering the consequences of the steps and working together on finding workable solutions. Cape Forum will also present its four-point risk analysis of expected consequences (see attached) to the WCED.

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Issued by Bernard Peters, Head: Community Activation, Cape Forum, 30 August 2024