By Johnathan Paoli
The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in the Western Cape has expressed outrage at the provincial education department’s decision to maintain the same number of funded educator posts for 2026, warning that this will deepen existing pressures on schools and governing bodies.
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, Sadtu provincial secretary Sibongile Kwazi accused the provincial education authorities of failing to prioritise the needs of learners and teachers.
This follows a series of consultations over the last month.
“The current situation has already placed pressure on school governing bodies, and it will further strain their budgets as they are compelled to provide funding for the additional posts in 2026. Sadtu reiterates that more posts could be provided had the employer listened to the union on the reviewal of the Annual Systemic Evaluations and the Back on Track programme,” Kwazi said.
According to the union, the decision to keep the educator post “basket” at 35,934, the same as in 2025, was confirmed during a meeting last month with education MEC David Maynier and finalised at a session with HOD Brent Walters.
During the session, the department reportedly presented two scenarios for the 2026 staffing plan.
One option involved declaring more teachers “in excess” at certain schools next year, followed by their redeployment to other institutions.
Sadtu rejected this, saying it would cause further “instability” in the education system.
Option two, which all unions ultimately accepted, retained the current number of posts in order to provide “greater stability” for schools, according to the department.
While Kwazi acknowledged that maintaining the current staffing level was preferable to further redeployments, the decision failed to address the systemic shortages that have forced many school governing bodies (SGBs) to pay for additional educators out of their own budgets.
Under the 2026 post basket in terms of teacher-pupil ratios, primary schools will remain at 1:35 secondary schools at 1:37, and the system-wide ratio remaining at 1:36.
Kwazi argued these ratios were already too high and would have a direct impact on the quality of teaching and learning.
One positive note from the consultations, according to Sadtu, was the department’s commitment to fully integrate Grade R into the educator staff establishment from 2026, albeit with funding drawn from a separate source.
The department also assured that Grade R practitioners who successfully upgraded their qualifications would be recognised as fully qualified teachers, with all associated benefits.
Kwazi said this was step toward the universalisation of early childhood education.
However, the union raised concerns about the department’s restrictive approach to hiring substitute teachers.
In 2026, substitutes will only be approved for educators on maternity leave, those taking long-term leave under the Policy on Incapacity Leave and Ill-Health Retirement, and for teachers who have been suspended.
The department is expected to issue its formal post establishment circular to all ordinary public and special schools by 29 August, outlining the official allocation of posts for the 2026 school year.
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