Address by the Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor, MP, at the Teacher Recruitment Campaign, Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Choosing to become a teacher is to choose to make a significant impact on the future.

Teachers are key agents of social change, economic development and human resource development.

The event depicted in the current strike by teachers and other public servants has demonstrated the important role teachers play.

It has also illustrated other matters that we should examine closely.

First, given the vital role teachers play, have we accorded them a status in the public service that recognises their professional status in remuneration and other conditions of service?

Second, given the belief that this is a profession, what would set its members apart from other professionals?

In short, teaching is a very important profession not to be entered into lightly and definitely not for the faint hearted.

Teaching in South Africa and in the world as a whole has become a complex area of social action. This is primarily because of the changing norms and practices in society. It was mush easier to teach young children who had never seen a computer than the clued up children of today.

The demands of the world of work, of society and communities impact on teaching massively.

Almost every country reviews its approaches, its curriculum, its outcomes and investment periodically.

This is because the world has begun to impact significantly on everyday schooling. Suddenly, the very liberal gun laws of the United States (US) are influencing schooling. The conflict in Iran impacts on school uniform and high school suicide levels in Japan mean a change in curriculum.

Education is the key to our children fulfilling their unique potential.

"Teaching makes a difference" is the slogan for the Teacher Recruitment Campaign, the Fundza Lushaka Bursary Programme that we formally launch today.

Government has made R700 million available over the next three years for initial teacher education.

The bursary programme is an important component of the National Framework for Teacher Education and Development that will be released shortly.

The bursary scheme will give preference to students who come from rural areas, they will be more likely to teach in rural areas once qualified.

The scheme also gives preference to students who want to train in priority subject and learning areas where teachers are in short supply such as mathematics, science, technology (including information and communication technology (ICT)) and indigenous languages, English and in the foundation phase.

The priority areas for which the bursaries were allocated for 2007 relate to the following:

* grades R to 9: foundation phase, African languages, English language, mathematics, science and technology,
* grades 8 to 12: African languages, English language, mathematics, mathematical literacy, agricultural sciences, life sciences, physical science, agricultural, civil, electrical, mechanical, information and computer applications technology, engineering graphics and design.

In 2007 bursaries are offered for study in the following programmes:

*Bachelor of Education (BEd) degrees, Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and BA/BSc/BCom/BTech degrees in subjects suitable for admission to a PGCE programme.

Three thousand bursaries have been provided for in 2007. In providing this bursary programme, we are expecting to attract engaging young students.

I am confident that new recruits will bring about the transformation of our schools that we so urgently desire.

As Mongane Wally Serote writes in one of his striking poems, "there will be a better time made by us."

MEC, the influence that these young men and women will have on the lives of generations of children cannot be underestimated.

All who choose teaching as a first choice career will make a difference and that they will go forward into the unknown bravely bearing the torch that will light the way for many learners that they will carry with dignity the responsibility which South Africa places so firmly on their young shoulders.

Issued by: Department of Education
12 June 2007