Compulsory service in non-model C government schools for all teaching graduates

Announcing the new regulation, Deputy-Minister of Education Mohamed Surly explained that measures like this are vital to improve the country’s education. “There is a dire shortage of teachers in poorer schools. Yet the most qualified teaching graduates go straight to Model C or private schools. We hope new teachers will see the benefit of this. It’s a way for them to give back to the country. They can make a real difference now.”

The regulation was welcomed by academics and activists. Professor Laura Elsor of the University of Cape Town’s Department of Education, told GroundUp, “This is long overdue. Township schools are terribly under resourced, but it is not just about money. We have to solve the problem of getting more and better teachers into these schools. We find that too many of our graduates want to teach at well-resourced schools. This regulation will get them out of their comfort zones. I think it will be good for them and it will be good for the schools.”

The move has also been welcomed by Equal Education. Rad Brockman, the organisation’s director, told GroundUp, “We’ve been campaigning for this for a while now. We’re thrilled. The DoE has shown that it is committed to reducing inequality in schooling.”

GroundUp spoke to students currently doing their teaching degrees. Siphokazi Ndjeka from Macassar said the regulation doesn’t really affect her. “I was planning to teach at Luhlaza High in Khayelitsha next year anyway. I want to give back to my community. It would be easier to teach at Bishops or Westerford. But this will be a lot more fulfilling. I’ll be giving kids with few opportunities a chance in life.”

Not everyone we spoke to reacted so positively. Michelle Johnson-Knowles who is studying at UCT and lives in Claremont told us, “This is a disgrace. This government is a shocker. I wouldn’t have done teaching if I’d known this would happen. I so wanted to teach at Rustenberg from next year. That’s where I matriculated. How can the [education] department expect me to travel to Lavender Hill or Gugulethu everyday? It’s not safe. I will probably go overseas and offer my skills elsewhere.”

Update: In case you fell for it, this was an April Fool’s joke. There are a few obvious clues (e.g. google the name of the Deputy-Minister of Education). But this would be a good idea, don’t you think?