Universities, which now supply about 98% of all new teachers for the schooling system, have in the past few years qualified fewer than a third of the teachers needed to replace those leaving the profession. We know that teacher shortage is acute in some learning areas (such as literacy, mathematics, science and technology) and in some geographical regions (particularly in rural schools).
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/ 10 October 2005
The question of whether South Africa is producing enough new teachers is the subject of hot debate. But it is one that we need clear answers to, particularly in the light of our national aspiration to provide quality education for all.