Over 7 000 Grade R teachers are unqualified

THE Department of Basic Education has revealed that over 7 000 unqualified Grade R teachers are currently employed in public schools across all nine provinces in South Africa

- BY SIMON MAJADIBODU

Of the 7 294 unqualified practitioners currently employed in public schools across all nine provinces in South Africa, it is further concerning that only 2 121 of them are eligible for qualification upgrades.

These practitioners do not possess the minimum National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 6 qualification required to teach at this level.

The figures were presented to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education yesterday during a briefing on the status of regulations to the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act as they relate to Grade R admissions.