The State of Education

from Elliott

A job posting that I saw at the Post Office made me wonder whether this High School in the Eastern Cape would have me as a teacher. It is seeking 'Qualified, Underqualified or Unqualified' applicants for current openings.Certainly that includes me!

Sadly though, this does not speak well of the state of education in our ministry area of the Eastern Cape. Class size here is high and it seems that the students are often lacking the opportunity they deserve. I have read recently that there are 65,000 teaching positions in the province with as many as 10,000 unfilled. Certainly, with so many without work in this country, they can find someone to fill the positions. Is it another example of short sighted leadership or the pervasive corruption or both?

Unfortunately, regardless of the cause, the students lose out. Life is already tough here for the learners but then to add overcrowding, inadequate facilities and limited opportunity for graduates, hope is already in short supply.