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Mpumalanga’s education system is grappling with severe challenges, including critical staffing shortages and a lack of learning materials in home languages. These issues, exacerbated by the recently implemented Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act, have sparked heated debates among political leaders and opposition parties.
The Bela Act, signed into law in September, aims to address inequalities in education, streamline admissions, and make Grade R compulsory. However, critics argue that it has inadvertently created administrative delays, leaving schools and learners in disarray.
At a recent provincial legislature sitting, the policy shift was blamed for ongoing crises in schools. DA legislator Annerie Weber highlighted the dire shortage of study materials, particularly in African languages.
“The auditor-general’s 2023/24 report revealed that 890 primary schools in Mpumalanga lacked Grade 3 African language reading materials,” said Weber. “This failure left about 106,800 learners unable to complete the curriculum, starting the academic year at a disadvantage.”
Evidence underscores the importance of teaching children in their home languages to improve literacy rates. A 2021 study by the University of Pretoria found that 81% of South African Grade 4 learners struggle with reading comprehension. Yet, many Mpumalanga learners are still deprived of the necessary resources to learn in their native tongues.
Staffing Crisis and Bureaucratic Delays
Compounding the problem is the province’s high vacancy rate in education posts. While MEC for Education Cathy Dlamini reported a 6.8% vacancy rate for teachers in schools, office-based positions face a staggering 49.36% vacancy rate.
MK Party legislator Gabeni Ndimande expressed alarm over these figures, calling them a major obstacle to quality education.
Dlamini explained that schools often appoint temporary educators to address immediate needs, but filling permanent posts is hampered by bureaucratic red tape.
“Even though the hiring moratorium has been lifted, processes to motivate and fill posts remain lengthy,” Dlamini stated.
Mounting Pressure for Solutions
Critics argue that delays in addressing these issues disproportionately affect the poorest learners, leaving them vulnerable to setbacks.
Dlamini pointed to the Bela Act as a framework for addressing resource and language challenges but acknowledged that funding limitations constrain progress.
As Mpumalanga’s education system struggles to meet the needs of learners, the call for urgent action grows louder. Without swift intervention, the province’s children risk falling further behind in accessing quality education.
