Half of the graduates from government’s teacher bursary scheme still without jobs

Nearly half of the graduates funded through the government’s flagship teacher bursary scheme remain without teaching posts, despite efforts to attract more young people into the profession. This emerged on Tuesday when the Department of Basic Education (DBE) presented its third quarterly performance report to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education. The report shows that only 922 of the 1 858 Funza Lushaka graduates issued to provincial education departments (PEDs) have been placed in schools, leaving almost 50% still without jobs.

According to the DBE, the overall placement rate stands at 49.62%, meaning 936 graduates remain unplaced. The province that placed the fewest graduates was the Northern Cape with 21 (1.13%), while KwaZulu-Natal placed the highest with 184 graduates (9.90%). The figures highlight ongoing challenges in absorbing newly qualified teachers into the schooling system, while teacher shortages persist.

Responding to questions from MPs, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube explained that while the government encourages young people to enter teaching, a bursary does not guarantee employment. However, she clarified that graduates must still compete for available posts. The minister said government would like to see more Funza Lushaka graduates placed in schools, but fiscal constraints remain an obstacle.

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“The issue around the fiscal envelope becomes a problem,” she added. Gwarube said employment decisions ultimately lie with provincial education departments, which are responsible for filling posts.

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