Education expert warns trimming WC teacher posts could lead to catastrophe

CAPE TOWN - The reduction of teacher posts announced by the Western Cape Department of  Education Department will affect the quality of education. 

That's the view of an education expert from the University of Stellenbosch. 

Professor Mbulu Madiba said the move would also hurt teaching as a career. 

The department announced on Thursday that 2,400 teaching posts will be cut from January next year. 

It said the decision was due to budget cuts of R3.8 billion from National Treasury, over the next three years.

READ: Budget cuts to see thousands of WC teacher posts slashed

Madiba said the teaching profession in the country is already under threat as teachers are leaving to work abroad.

He said the latest announcement by the Department of Education would worsen the already challenging learner-teacher ratio in overcrowded classrooms.

"This thing is going to have another impact in terms of those few teachers that are going to remain in the system. They are overloaded, think of mental health, the repercussions of that to the families, to the families and so on. So it's a vicious circle, it's a vicious circle." 

Madiba has called on the National Treasury and the Minister of Basic Education to find solutions to ensure the quality of education at the country's schools isn't compromised.