NEARLY 5000 Eastern Cape teachers, sitting at home allegedly sick, have cost taxpayers millions over the past five years.
The number of them, 4814, is almost exactly the same as the number of jobs occupied by temporary teachers, who are at the centre of an ongoing battle between the state and unions.
Department spokesman Loyiso Pulumani yesterday confirmed the figures were those contained in a scathing memo sent out by the department’s superintendent general Mthunywa Ngonzo to 23 district managers and school governing bodies (SGBs).
“The department has been assisted by the national and has contracted a company to analyse the numbers. went through district files to find out the credible figures and will assess the alleged ailments as submitted on the teachers’ medical certificates.”
Pulumani said a team of medical practitioners had been set up to do assessments and finally resolve the cases.
The process should take about two months.
He said this was part of the department’s move to “free up” spaces for employment of teachers for schools.
An additional 560 teaching jobs have already been identified and budgeted for.
“The MEC articulated at a media briefing after his budget policy speech that these are some of the measures to be taken to stabilise the department, and for the first time the department has not overspent and no programmes have been suspended. We anticipate more posts will be available going forward,” Pulumani said.
Attempts to get a comment from the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) failed.
While Makupula made an address last week, hundreds of Sadtu members marched to the department’s headquarters in Zwelitsha, demanding the reinstatement of all the temporary teachers whose contracts were terminated in December.
The department rehired only 2353 out of 4000 temps until the end of June.
Pulumani said negotiations were under way with Sadtu members.
Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday, Ngonzo said government policy allowed employees to be on sick leave for 36 days in three years and some teachers were on leave longer than that .
“This is going to allow us to ensure the system is functioning and for these teachers to leave the department with dignity.
“No one is going to face disciplinary hearings but people are going to be offered early retirement. These problems have been here for and no one has dealt with them.”
In his memo to officials dated March 7, Ngonzo slammed schools for threatening to close over teacher shortages.
Copied in the letter were premier Noxolo Kiviet, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, the department’s director-general Bobby Soobrayan and provincial planning and finance MEC Phumulo Masualle.
Both Kiviet and Motshekga have criticised schools for their actions.
Ngonzo called on all parties involved to exercise restraint and work together .
He said the department’s plans to move 6781 excess teachers to 8825 posts had been hampered by Sadtu but an order of the court had been won to prevent such disturbances. —
4800 teachers on ‘sick leave’ cost millions
The number of them, 4814, is almost exactly the same as the number of jobs occupied by temporary teachers, who are at the centre of an ongoing battle between the state and unions.
Department spokesman Loyiso Pulumani yesterday confirmed the figures were those contained in a scathing memo sent out by the department’s superintendent general Mthunywa Ngonzo to 23 district managers and school governing bodies (SGBs).
“The department has been assisted by the national and has contracted a company to analyse the numbers. went through district files to find out the credible figures and will assess the alleged ailments as submitted on the teachers’ medical certificates.”
Pulumani said a team of medical practitioners had been set up to do assessments and finally resolve the cases.
The process should take about two months.
He said this was part of the department’s move to “free up” spaces for employment of teachers for schools.
An additional 560 teaching jobs have already been identified and budgeted for.
“The MEC articulated at a media briefing after his budget policy speech that these are some of the measures to be taken to stabilise the department, and for the first time the department has not overspent and no programmes have been suspended. We anticipate more posts will be available going forward,” Pulumani said.
Attempts to get a comment from the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) failed.
While Makupula made an address last week, hundreds of Sadtu members marched to the department’s headquarters in Zwelitsha, demanding the reinstatement of all the temporary teachers whose contracts were terminated in December.
The department rehired only 2353 out of 4000 temps until the end of June.
Pulumani said negotiations were under way with Sadtu members.
Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday, Ngonzo said government policy allowed employees to be on sick leave for 36 days in three years and some teachers were on leave longer than that .
“This is going to allow us to ensure the system is functioning and for these teachers to leave the department with dignity.
“No one is going to face disciplinary hearings but people are going to be offered early retirement. These problems have been here for and no one has dealt with them.”
In his memo to officials dated March 7, Ngonzo slammed schools for threatening to close over teacher shortages.
Copied in the letter were premier Noxolo Kiviet, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, the department’s director-general Bobby Soobrayan and provincial planning and finance MEC Phumulo Masualle.
Both Kiviet and Motshekga have criticised schools for their actions.
Ngonzo called on all parties involved to exercise restraint and work together .
He said the department’s plans to move 6781 excess teachers to 8825 posts had been hampered by Sadtu but an order of the court had been won to prevent such disturbances. —
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos