Social development now blamed for teachers’ qualification problems

A controversial state-funded training programme that promised to equip early childhood development (ECD) practitioners with recognised qualifications has left dozens of Eastern Cape teachers in limbo, with the education department now distancing itself from the initiative and placing responsibility on the social development department, which oversaw ECD at the time. The clarification comes after an internal audit identified 66 practitioners affected by problems relating to qualifications obtained through the Qondisa Programme, which has come under scrutiny amid allegations that it was not properly accredited, leaving some teachers unable to secure permanent employment despite years of service. The programme ran in 2007 across the province, with the first cohort graduating a year later.

The department concluded its province-wide audit following complaints from practitioners who claimed they were denied permanent appointments after the South African Council for Educators (SACE) raised concerns about qualifications obtained through the programme. Many had hoped to benefit from the department’s recent move to absorb qualified ECD practitioners into permanent Post Level 1 positions after years of working on annual contracts and receiving stipends. However, some were unable to complete the process after encountering difficulties with SACE registration linked to their NQF Level 4 qualifications obtained through the programme.

It is very important that we highlight that after the sector professionalised ECD, we inherited problems that were coming from social development Permanent employment is subject to SACE registration. Speaking at a media briefing at the Mandla Makupula Institute in KuGompo City this week, provincial chief director for corporate services Lukhanyo Sidiya said the department’s investigation found 66 affected practitioners despite hundreds undertaking the programme nearly two decades ago. Sidiya said the department inherited the problem when the ECD function was transferred from social development.

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“It is very important that we highlight that after the sector professionalised ECD, we inherited problems that were coming from social development because the ECD function was mainly implemented by social development. “So many NGOs wanted to be part of the ECD programme, but as a department we decided to professionalise.

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