We are failing a generation by leaving 31,000 teaching posts unfilled

Education For All is an international movement founded in 1990 to ensure that each child, youth and adult has access to quality equal basic education irrespective of their background.

- Michael Le Cordeur

With the establishment of democracy 31 years ago, South Africa accepted this principle and included it in its Constitution and educational guidelines.

So it does not make sense that 31,811 permanent teacher and school principal posts in the country are vacant. This represents nearly 10% of the total teacher corps.

I find it difficult to understand why the Department of Basic Education is not serious about filling these posts. The situation is mostly the legacy of former Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, but the government of national unity must use this opportunity to fix education.

Leadership vacuum

Another 2,021 teachers and principals will retire at the end of the year. It is good that the department plans to fill the posts with young teachers who have just qualified, but the retirements leave a vacuum of experience and leadership that cannot be easily filled.

The vacancies include about 500 management positions, including 256 department heads, 99 deputy heads and 157 principals. With so many leadership posts vacant, it is no wonder that so many of our schools lack leadership.

As a former principal, I cannot imagine how a school can function without leaders. This has a crippling effect on the entire education system, and deserves a closer look.