Teacher shortage is still a major issue
There is still a shortage of Afrikaans speaking teachers at Westenburg Secondary School and the result is that Afrikaans and English speaking learners' classes are combined and subjects are taught in both languages.
POLOKWANE – There is still a shortage of Afrikaans speaking teachers at Westenburg Secondary School and the result is that Afrikaans and English speaking learners’ classes are combined and subjects are taught in both languages.
Jimmy Steele, acting school principal, said this was a temporary intervention until more Afrikaans speaking teachers were appointed at the school.
The provincial secretary for the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), Matome Raphasha, said they received several complaints from teachers that they were being forced to teach both languages even though they were only proficient in one.
“The school previously had separate classes accommodating English and Afrikaans speaking learners. However this changed when the principal merged the classes, forcing teachers to use both languages when teaching.
“How can you expect someone to teach in a language they don’t understand?” Raphasha asked.
Steele denied the teachers were forced to teach in both languages. “We will never expect a teacher to teach in a language he or she is not comfortable with. Teachers who are fluent in both Afrikaans and English were asked to teach in both languages. Everyone agreed, except for three teachers who are not fluent in Afrikaans.
“It is expected from the teachers to balance the languages in class when explaining work. If an Afrikaans-speaking learner does not understand when the teacher explains in English, the teacher must explain the work in Afrikaans to ensure the learner understands, and vice versa. Question papers for class tests and examinations are in both Afrikaans and English,” Steele said.
The shortage of Afrikaans teachers at the school has been a pressing matter since 2013.
In August 2013 outraged parents locked the school gates due to various issues at the school, including a shortage of Afrikaans teachers.
Spokesperson for the department of education, Paena Galane, said Westenburg Secondary School was allocated four posts, to attend to their shortage.
“We are also in the early stages of the appointment of a principal of the school, to be in line with the guidelines on both acting and permanent,” Galane said.
