Teachers should be trained for free in order to try to close SA's current 20,000-plusteacher shortfall, the SA Council of Educators said on Thursday.

"Considering the low levels of intake at teacher-training facilities and the high costs of training... the Council calls for free teacher training for all prospective teachers, with immediate effect," said SACE CEO Rej Brijraj on Thursday.

Current bursary arrangements were having a minimal impact on the shortage and SACE believed urgent steps needed to be taken to secure the training of at least 20,000 teachers a year over at least the next four years.

Brijraj said if current class sizes, which averaged 30 students per class, were taken into account, the shortfall rose to 57,000.

Full bursaries covering the cost of tuition, boarding and out of pocket expenses should be given.

The council also felt there should be training facilities available to train teachers in the geographical areas and teaching fields they were needed.

"Whilst many teachers are unemployed, they remain unsuitable for the specific needs of schools where shortages occur," said Brijraj.

"In particular Council points to the dire shortage in Foundation phase and Home language educators."

The SACE also called on the department of education to devise a strategy to stop the high rate of teacher resignations and instead retain and affirm the teachers.

The council also called on teachers to protect and deepen the country's democracy through their work.

"While teachers are professional workers they remain intellectual activists."

Brijraj said teachers should mobilize communities to register and vote in the next elections as well as to volunteer as agents for voter education or as electoral officers.

Teachers should educate their students and communities about democracy, the constitution and human rights.

"SACE requests teachers... to engage in political party work in a responsible manner and outside of school hours."

The council also said preparations were being finalised for the mid-2009 pilot launch of a system which would record and guide teachers' ongoing professional development.

Brijraj said teachers would not be placed under any compulsion and should look forward to a system designed for their own benefit.

When it came to confusion regarding Outcome Based Education and the national curriculum, employers should explain the system in a "user friendly way" to students, teachers and parents.