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The Minister of Education, Professor Kader Asmal, today expressed his concern at the imminent arrival in South Africa of a team of consultants and principals from Britain to recruit South African teachers. He said, "Such raids on the teaching profession at a critical time in our history are not helpful to the development of education in South Africa."

Professor Asmal said that it was regrettable that this campaign involves an official visit by members of the British education authority. Since the teachers would be recruited to fill posts in government schools in Britain, the Minister felt that it would have been appropriate if there had been an approach from the British education authorities before such a campaign was organised. He said that he was not opposed in principle to the right of teachers to take up posts abroad, especially in a temporary capacity, however "it would have been better if those concerned had spoken to us first so that the campaign and its usefulness could be properly evaluated." A government-to-government consultation would have ensured that the best interests of both countries could be discussed and an arrangement worked out in which both countries could benefit.

The Minister indicated that many teachers may take up offers for teaching posts without being fully informed of the nature of the work and the environments in which they would be expected to fulfil their duties. In addition "our experience in South Africa has shown that it is good, qualified teachers who are lured away from the country and not teachers who are unemployed or not longer working as teachers." This causes considerable disruption for the schools concerned especially as teachers recruited in this fashion have to resign half way through the school year.

There is a disturbing trend for recruitment campaigns to be run in South Africa to recruit professionals due to the excellent higher education provided at our universities and technikons. However those doing and supporting such campaigns often have little concern for the development needs of South Africa and the costs and effort that has been put into producing good quality graduates.

The Minister also noted that there was already a general agreement with Britain that in strategic areas such as health, for instance, there would be no poaching of staff from South Africa. He believed that this applies also in the case of education.

Contact: Allan Taylor at 082.658.4495

Issued by Ministry of Education

14 February 2001