Paul Esterhuizen, chief executive of the educational NGO School-Days, has warned that there will soon be a teacher shortage in South Africa.
Esterhuizen says that if the South African government does not make the education sector more attractive to young people, the country’s education will face a huge teacher shortage for years to come.
GOVERNMENT ADVISES TO MAKE TEACHING ATTRACTIVE TO AVOID SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS
This South African businessman and philanthropist says education budgets in general are not rising at the same pace as teacher salaries, as reported by EYEWITNESS NEWS.
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“They’re running a deficit and they can’t hire more teachers.”
PAUL ESTERHUIZEN
THE NGO SAYS THAT THE SALARIES OF TEACHERS ARE NOT ON THE GRILL WITH THE BUDGETED EDUCATION
Esterhuizen said that currently in public schools there is a ratio of 30 children per classroom for each teacher and it is increasing.
This NGO chief warns that this will be even greater with the impending teacher shortage in the coming years.
“We are all very aware that in the next five years, in the next 10 years, literally from now on, more than 50% of our current teaching population will retire.
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“Are we developing enough or are we aware that more teachers will come to fill these gaps or that more, younger teachers will come?”
PAUL ESTERHUIZEN
A Pretoria schoolteacher, who wishes to remain anonymous, says schools are already experiencing teacher shortages.
He added that his classrooms in predominantly colored townships and areas are already full.
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According to her, they sit with between 38 and 45 students per class, which makes teaching very unappealing and almost impossible.
He added that in some classrooms there are not even enough tables and chairs for the children, let alone enough classrooms, as schools are about to explode.
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The South African previously reported that Mpumalanga department head Lucy Moyane said they need at least 383 schools to serve the province’s growing population.
