MORE than half of the schools in the country rely on temporary teachers.
There are at least 25,850 such schools and by the end of March 15,087 of them had vacancies for teachers.
According to the Department of Basic Education the posts have been filled with temporary teachers "until such time as the recruitment process to fill them permanently is completed".
According to research done by the Centre for Development and Enterprise last year South Africa needs 25,000 new teachers every year in order to cope with pupil demand.
At least 4000 teachers retire every year.
Earlier this year Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said 6641 schools across the country had fewer than six teachers, and more than 20000 teachers were forced to practise "multi-grade teaching", in some instances teaching as many as four grades in one class.
Eastern Cape has the largest number of schools - 2,333 - with fewer than six teachers, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 1,131 schools.
A total of 561 schools in KwaZulu-Natal needed additional maths teachers, with 557 needing maths literacy teachers and 508 requiring more science teachers.
The shortage was supposed to be met by Funza Lushaka graduates. The Funza Lushaka bursary scheme offers bursaries to university students to study towards an education degree.
Teacher shortage crisis affects half SA's schools
MORE than half of the schools in the country rely on temporary teachers.
There are at least 25,850 such schools and by the end of March 15,087 of them had vacancies for teachers.
According to the Department of Basic Education the posts have been filled with temporary teachers "until such time as the recruitment process to fill them permanently is completed".
According to research done by the Centre for Development and Enterprise last year South Africa needs 25,000 new teachers every year in order to cope with pupil demand.
At least 4000 teachers retire every year.
Earlier this year Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said 6641 schools across the country had fewer than six teachers, and more than 20000 teachers were forced to practise "multi-grade teaching", in some instances teaching as many as four grades in one class.
Eastern Cape has the largest number of schools - 2,333 - with fewer than six teachers, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 1,131 schools.
A total of 561 schools in KwaZulu-Natal needed additional maths teachers, with 557 needing maths literacy teachers and 508 requiring more science teachers.
The shortage was supposed to be met by Funza Lushaka graduates. The Funza Lushaka bursary scheme offers bursaries to university students to study towards an education degree.
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