Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Education Imbizo in Somerset West
EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY THE WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, ADDRESSING AN EDUCATION IMBIZO, Somerset West, 8 September 2003
TEACHING - A CAREER OF DISTINCTION: PROVINCE NEEDS 50% MORE TRAINEE TEACHERS
It has been said that greatness comes from a solid bed of humility. In the Western Cape, and in South Africa, there can be very few groups who contribute more to the greatness of our future than our teachers. As much a source of inspiration as they are a source of knowledge, our 28 648 educators in the Western Cape provide learners from many of our poorest communities with what is often their only link to a brighter future.
Much has changed in South African education since 1994, but much more remains to be done. Although we spend a greater proportion of our National budget on education than the US, the UK, Brazil or Japan, about 1,9 million South Africans of working age still have no education qualification of any sort. Sufficient numbers of properly qualified and motivated educators are the foundation upon which any effort to address this education gap must be built.
Recent research at national level has indicated though, that South Africa faces a critical shortage of educators. As a country, we will need to train about 30 000 new teachers every year to meet the demand for teachers over the next 30 years. This means that 15% of all matriculants will need to choose teaching as their career path - yet only 2-3% currently enter teaching as their chosen profession.
In the Western Cape our Provincial Education Department, under the leadership of Western Cape Education Minister, Andr
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
