After announcing teaching jobs cuts, WCED vows to do 'everything we can to fight for our teachers'

CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said it would do everything to avoid the looming cut of 2,400 teachers next year.
 
This comes after the department made an announcement on Thursday that R3.8 billion budget cuts for the next three financial years would lead to the cutting of teachers in January 2025.
 
The provincial Education MEC, David Maynier, said that with the current budget, the department would not be able to retain the current number of teachers for next year.
 
"And have raised the matter at the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) for urgent action, because these budget shortfalls impact all the provinces. We should never have been put in this position, and we will do everything we can to fight for our teachers in the Western Cape."
 
Meanwhile, Western Cape SADTU spokesperson, Sbongile Kwazi, called for the implementation of the BackOnTrack programme to be put on hold in order to retain the teachers.
 
"What we are saying now is that the employer should halt that programme because in the first place it doesn't benefit all the learners in the province, it's just a certain percentage who benefit." 
 
Meanwhile, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube's office has indicated she'll address the matter in Parliament next week.