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I have the pleasure of announcing the launch of a teacher recruitment campaign in the Western Cape, designed to meet our need for teachers in the province in the medium to long-term.

We are proud of our efforts to put learning first, and of our achievements so far. Our teacher recruitment campaign marks another milestone in our ongoing efforts to improve the quality of education in the province.

Teaching and learning are the core activities of my department.

Our vision is to provide quality education for all. Our mission is to ensure that all learners in this province acquire the knowledge, skills and values they need to lead fulfilling and happy lives and consequently become contributing members of the South African community.

Pivotal to education, schooling and learning is the teacher. As the major employer of teachers in the Western Cape, my department needs to be abreast of developments within this profession.

In 2001, Luis Crouch, an international researcher, conducted a study for the National Department of Education on the supply and demand for teachers in South Africa. His research indicates that the number of teachers in initial teacher education programmes is far below that which will be required to service the school sector in the next 30 years.

Crouch's analysis predicts that a looming imbalance between teacher supply and demand is likely to occur as a result of several factors. These include:

* A decline in enrolments to teacher education programmes offered by Higher Education institutions; and
* The impact of HIV/AIDS.

Based on his assumptions, South Africa should train 30 000 new teachers each year, and 15% of all matriculants should become teachers. At present, between 2 to 3% of matriculants opt for teaching as a career.

Acting on this information, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) commissioned research into the supply and demand for teachers in the Western Cape.

A generous donation from the Cape Town and Hewat Memorial Trust made it possible for an independent researcher to undertake an investigation based on:
* Teacher attrition rates in the province;
* The effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on both teacher and learners;
* The needs for particular subjects / learning areas;
* The medium of instruction;
* The changing profile of learners in the schools;
* The enrolments and the present numbers of student teachers at the Higher Education Institutions; and
* The numbers of teachers leaving the country.

The results of the research show that approximately 1900 individuals need to enter the pre-service courses offered in 2003 for there to be sufficient teachers in the province in 2006. This figure can be broken down as follows:

Foundation
Afrikaans: 182
English: 109
Xhosa: 73
Total: 364

Intermediate
Afrikaans: 307
English: 205
Xhosa: 0
Total: 512

Senior
Afrikaans: 300
English: 217
Xhosa: 0
Total: 517

FET
Afrikaans: 241
English: 216
Xhosa: 18
Total: 475

Total
Afrikaans: 1030
English: 747
Xhosa: 90
Total: 1868

The actual numbers that entered training at the commencement of this academic year is 916. This is 50.9% of the predicted needs for the year 2006.

My department appreciates awareness of this information and our concerns have been shared with the Higher Education institutions.

One of the major reasons for the low enrolment figures is that the public at large does not fully appreciate the key role that teachers must play in preparing young people for the future, and building the kind of society we aspire to.

It is with these facts in mind that my department is launching a substantial recruitment campaign to encourage young people to consider becoming teachers in this province.

In consultations within my department as well as with school principals, teacher education providers and funding schemes it is clear that there is a pool of young people who wish to teach.

It is also clear that they want to make a difference by helping young South Africans to realise their potential.

These consultations also revealed that there is much misinformation regarding the status of teaching profession. This has prompted my department to develop material to inform and encourage individuals to choose teaching as a career. Our campaign will include:

* Distributing brochures to inform young people about where to study to become a teacher and about possible sources of financial assistance;
* Distributing a publication that provides information on the demand for teachers and exciting opportunities and challenges presented by committing oneself to the teaching profession;
* Encouraging high-ranking individuals to promote teaching publicly wherever possible;
* Organising visits to schools by master teachers to promote the teaching profession to senior learners who are considering career choices;
* Encouraging undergraduates to consider teaching as a career; and
* Increasing and extending financial aid to student teachers, within the bounds of the restricted budget of my department. About 30 bursaries from the WCED are awarded annually to students studying to teach Mathematics and Science. In addition, the National Students Financial Aid Scheme has funds specifically ring-fenced for student teachers.

I encourage everyone with an interest in education to promote teaching as a career option, for it has been said that a well-qualified teacher in every classroom is the most effective way to improve the nation and that teaching gives more back to any nation than any other profession.

Enquiries: Rudi Buys on 021 467 2376, Fax: 25 3616, 082 577 6551

Issued by Western Cape Provincial Government

29 August 2003