Two of the largest teacher unions in South Africa have lodged formal disputes against the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) over its plan to cut more than 2 000 teaching posts, Cape {town} Etc reports.
On 28 August, the WCED announced that approximately 2 400 teachers would lose their jobs due to a budget shortfall of R3.8 billion over the next three years.
National Treasury funded only 64% of the Compensation for Employees, meaning the province must fund the remaining 36%.
Despite implementing an R2.5 billion budget cut, the WCED said it had to take drastic steps to remain fiscally stable.
'Teachers are our greatest asset, and reducing the number of teachers in our schools will negatively impact learning outcomes, so this is a decision that we have not taken lightly,' it said in a statement.
