Teachers blocked from posts after qualifications not recognised

Hundreds of Eastern Cape grade R teachers have been blocked from securing permanent government jobs after qualifications they obtained through a state-funded training programme nearly two decades ago were allegedly never properly accredited, prompting the provincial education department to launch an investigation. The Eastern Cape education department has ordered an audit of early childhood development (ECD) practitioners who obtained qualifications through the Qondisa Programme after growing concerns that some certificates are not being recognised by the South African Council for Educators (SACE). The dispute centres on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 4 certificate, obtained by many practitioners through the programme from 2007.

It also serves as a stepping stone, to unlock the NQF Level 5 diploma. Without SACE recognition, affected teachers have been unable to take up permanent government posts despite years — and in some cases decades — of classroom experience. An internal department memorandum, dated July 6 and sent to district directors and cluster chief directors, acknowledges complaints from practitioners whose qualifications obtained through the programme are not being recognised by SACE.

Districts were instructed to conduct a province-wide skills audit to determine how many teachers had been affected and submit their findings by Friday. The audit comes months after the department announced the conversion of 870 qualified grade R practitioners to permanent Post Level 1 positions, ending years of annual contracts and stipends for many teachers. Permanent employment is subject to SACE registration.

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For one Mthatha teacher, who has spent almost 30 years in the classroom, the news was devastating. Having taught since 1996, she enrolled in the Qondisa Programme in 2007 and graduated the following year. Earlier this year, she believed she would finally secure a permanent post, only to discover her qualification was allegedly not accredited.

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