According to a DA media release, the Free State Dept. of Education has, by its
own admission, lost almost 2 000 teachers over three years - 380 teachers
resigned in 2012, another 475 in 2013 and 845 in 2014. Four months into
this year saw 200 teachers tender their resignations and leave the profession.
The teacher exodus, coupled with the high school dropout rate of 61% resulting
in an actual Matric pass rate of 39% for 2014, and the poor performance of
learners seen in the Annual National Assessment (ANA) results indicate a
serious problem within the department. The ANA results for 2014 indicated that
only 5.1% of grade 9 students in the Free State obtained an acceptable
achievement of 50% and above for mathematics. In the first language category,
only 15.6% of these learners obtained an acceptable achievement. The department
also struggles to address its R1,3 billion shortfall resulting in the late
payment of teacher salaries, the delay in permanent teacher appointments and
the late payment of school subsidies.
(Free State
Business Bulletin)