The future of thousands of learners in the Eastern Cape is uncertain due to the unconstitutional action of the Department of Education. The latest bulletin advertising principal’s posts in the Eastern Cape has been declared a closed bulletin by the department. This means that only educators in the Eastern Cape qualify to apply for these posts.
The Democratic Alliance believes that it is contradictory to our constitution. By declaring the bulletin closed, educators across the country are robbed of the opportunity to exercise their constitutionally enshrined right to a job for which they qualify.
Many of our educators from the Eastern Cape are currently teaching in other provinces for various reasons. They are now blocked from coming back home.
We also believe that by limiting applications a situation is created whereby it is not necessarily the best candidate who is appointed to the post. This bulletin should be declared an open bulletin, thereby granting school governing bodies the opportunity to select possible candidates from a wider spectrum of qualified applicants. This will help ensure that the ultimate appointee would be fit for purpose and the best candidate to fill the position.
It is the view of the DA that opportunities should be created for all learners to have access to the best school principals.
As part of the DA’s Agenda for Accountability we will be taking up the issue by questioning the MEC for Education, Mahlubandile Qwase, during the next sitting of the Legislature.
For further information, please contact Edmund van Vuuren, MPL on 072 184 7840.
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