At this time of the year we believe that every shoulder is to the wheel and most of you have found your teaching rhythm after the holidays. Experts advise that the first days of school are the most crucial as they set the tone for the year ahead.
As always we are bringing you an edition packed with a variety of stories that will inform and empower. We lead with a story of an ambitious and pioneering initiative by Microsoft South Africa, which involves the installation of software that will enable people to access computers in their own languages. This means more people who cannot read English or Afrikaans will now be able to become part of the growing ICT community.
We also carry a story about the perennial problem of illegal colleges. These colleges use the legal gaps within the current regulation to dupe ill-informed and vulnerable parents out of their hard-earned money.
Although we do not nail a specific college, we do raise the point that many have been highlighted in the past. One point being that the education authorities must tighten laws and regulations to deny unscrupulous providers a space to continue with their devious activities.
The regulations that education authorities claim to have, proved ineffective in this regard.
We are, however, heartened by the news that from next year things will change for the better, as the department of education is to introduce stricter rules for the providers.
We are waiting with interest to see how this will pan out. We support the view that the department, as the chief custodian, must be seen to be merciless in dealing with elements that deliberately set up these dubious schools as instruments to enrich themselves.
According to the department, its personnel data for last year indicates that about 8% of teachers in South Africa have inappropriate qualifications. In 2002, when the National Professional Diploma in Education was introduced, the department was working with a figure of 87 000 under/unqualified teachers. Statistics now indicate that the number is down to 30 000.
While the department is assisting under/unqualified teachers by funding programmes that allow them to upgrade their skills, it is up to these teachers to apply and be admitted to these programmes, which the department says are widely advertised by the provincial departments of education.
It is clear that the education system needs qualified teachers who are equipped to teach the new curriculum. While we recognise the immense contribution that all teachers make to education, we believe that under/unqualified teachers who are opposed to upgrading their qualifications are doing themselves a disservice. Acquiring a recognised teaching certificate or diploma could mean permanent employment and the benefits that go with it. It further brings with it a sense of empowerment in terms of gaining an understanding and context to what and how they are teaching.
The department says that given the investment it has made to assist under/unqualified teachers, it may need to put in place regulations that enable it to bring an end to the employment of unqualified teachers for unlimited periods so that these numbers do not keep growing.
This view is in the light of the department investing in measures to attract new teachers into the profession.
The employment of under/unqualified teachers could in the future, come under the spotlight.