The Western Cape High Court has dismissed an urgent application by the Special Action Committee (SAC) for Education to halt the planned cutting of teaching posts in the province. The court ruled that the application was not urgent and that the decision to reduce posts was already known.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) welcomed the court's ruling, stating that the SAC's application contained "factually incorrect and misleading information."
The application from the start contained factually incorrect and misleading claims, and we're obviously happy with the outcome of the court. They found that the urgency was self-created and a proper explanation for the delay was manifestly lacking. The court also ordered the applicant to pay our costs.
SAC spokesperson Nadeem Hendricks described the court's decision as a "catastrophe" for under-resourced schools, particularly those in impoverished areas.
For us it will cause a irreparable harm to our futures of our children and the quality of education and the rights of education for our children in the future
He warned that the impact of budget cuts will be severely felt in these communities.
Chairperson Terrence Smith says this will harm the future of learners. The organisation has lost its bid to prevent the termination of teaching posts in the Western Cape.
For us it will cause a irreparable harm to our futures of our children and the quality of education and the rights of education for our children in the future
Budget Crisis Forces Cuts
The WCED has indicated that over 2,400 teaching posts will be cut in 2024 due to a national funding shortfall. The province received only 64% of the funds needed to cover the costs of the nationally negotiated wage agreement, leaving a massive R3.8 billion budget shortfall over the next three years.
Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier acknowledged the need to make "tough choices" due to the "fiscal emergency."
We are going to make some tough choices moving into the new school year, because there are no simple solutions when facing a fiscal emergency.
While he assured that the province would continue to fight for its teachers, concerns remain about the potential impact of job cuts on class sizes and the quality of education.
The cutting of teacher posts will likely lead to larger class sizes and potentially lower-quality education. While the WCED says these teachers will not be retrenched but rather reassigned, unions expressed their concerns
