SADTU: Assistant teachers can only benefit schools
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has welcomed the employment of 200,000 assistant teachers at schools across the country.
The initiative is aimed at easing the daily workload faced by teachers.
It was first introduced at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 but was halted in 2024.
SADTU spokesperson Nomusa Cimbi believes the initiative will bring much-needed relief to teachers, particularly those managing overcrowded classrooms and administrative tasks.
“Education assistants provide administrative support to teachers in classroom preparation before lessons, in the classroom during lessons and manage learners after lessons, while general school assistants support the upkeep and maintenance of school infrastructure,” said Cimbi.
She added that the support will enable teachers to devote more time to addressing pupils’ educational needs.
“We also believe the employment of these young people not only benefits schools but also offers temporary relief from the growing youth unemployment crisis. However, to make a more sustainable and meaningful impact, SADTU believes that these positions should eventually be converted to permanent posts to ensure continuity and consistency in support services.”
At the same time, Cimbi warned that assistant teachers are not professional teachers, who are required by law to provide proper, clear guidance and supervision in the classroom to ensure that the assistants can deliver the appropriate support.
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