The government is looking at early retirement and voluntary exit packages for teachers in a bid to save billions of rands. According to IOL, the Department of Basic Education could save an estimated R4.4 billion a year. But at what cost? Could losing experienced teachers put even more pressure on an already stretched education system? And where will the replacements come from?

 

The government is looking at early retirement and voluntary exit packages for teachers in a bid to save billions of rands. According to IOL, the Department of Basic Education could save an estimated R4.4 billion a year. But at what cost? Could losing experienced teachers put even more pressure on an already stretched education system? And where will the replacements come from? To unpack the implications, I’m joined by Nomusa Cembi, spokesperson for the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union