Pupils at the two schools in Kgatleng have gone for months without lessons due to shortage of teachers and this has angered both staff and residents from the two villages. Sikwane/Mabalane councilor, Rankoa Modibedi said this week that part of the problem lies in vetting of teachers by DIS and temporary hirings. "During my meetings with the regional education director, it became clear that teachers are not comfortable with the temporary attachments he has arranged.
They abhor the temporary employment system where they are forced to renew their contracts every term. It also came out clear that the screening process by the DIS has also caused the delays," said Modibedi. He added that they once tried to recruit retired teachers but they declined the offers. It is understood that some teachers are subjected to vetting by DIS as a result of the public service strike that took place last year. Residents of the two villages have vowed to take up the matter with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) as part of their effort to resolve the shortage.
