The Equal Education Law Centre (EELC) has warned that the government’s early retirement plans for teachers could have a major impact on education in South Africa.
Last week, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana revealed that the government aims to entice public service workers, including teachers, into early retirement. This initiative was outlined in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), released on Wednesday, which announced an additional R11 billion allocation over the next two fiscal years to support this measure.
We are also implementing initiatives like early retirement, not merely to reduce the size of the workforce, but also to introduce younger talent to the public service
His announcement highlights the government’s intensified attempts to reduce the public sector wage bill. According to the finance minister, this effort is part of building a capable, ethical, and developmental government.
EELC’s Daniel Al-Naddaf notes that research commissioned by the Higher Education Department found that 48% of teachers are expected to retire by 2030. This is concerning, as experts warn of a looming teacher shortage. However, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) maintains that there is no teacher shortage.
Al-Naddaf also expressed concern about the decreased funding for the Funza Lushaka Bursary, which is aimed at encouraging young people to pursue teaching as a career.
The point here is that while early retirement programs may work in certain sectors, they are diametrically opposed to the reality on the ground in the education sector.
The DBE also confirmed that recipients of the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme will no longer be prioritized when filling teacher posts.
Budget Cuts
Budget cuts in the education sector are forcing Provincial Education Departments to find solutions to balance their books. Some of these solutions could result in fewer teachers in classrooms.
More than 2,400 teaching posts are set to be cut in the Western Cape as the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) faces a R3.8 billion budget shortfall over the next three years.
A presentation to the National Assembly’s portfolio committee on education revealed that with a R4 billion budget shortfall, the KZN Education Department would be unable to pay 11,092 of its 90,000 teachers.
The Gauteng Department of Education is being forced to reduce learner transport and delay the expansion of Early Childhood Development.
Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, has assured parliament that no teaching posts will be cut in 2024.
Zwelinzima Vavi from the South African Federation of Trade Unions says that budget cuts in the education sector are an assault on both workers and learners.
They are cutting the education budget left, right, and centre. As a result, the Western Cape provincial government has already announced that it will have to retrench 2,400 workers, and 11,092 in KwaZulu-Natal. In Gauteng, they are managing the budget by scaling down school transport as well as the food provided to our kids
Government’s Public Sector Wages
The MTBPS emphasised that the public sector wage bill remains the single largest expenditure pressure facing the government. It also warned that the outcome of the 2025/26 wage negotiations could significantly impact medium-term fiscal projections.
Negotiations for the 2025/26 wage agreement are underway and are expected to conclude by the time the 2025 Budget is presented. An agreement that exceeds the government’s expectations would lead to structural increases in spending.
The government is committed to “fair and respectful collective bargaining,” aiming to balance employee compensation with its responsibility to maintain a sustainable and affordable fiscal policy.
The MTBPS indicated that more detailed plans for the early retirement initiative will be provided in the 2025 Budget, expected in February.
