NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 415
DATE OF PULICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 26/02/2010
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 4-2010)
Dr J C Kloppers-Lourens (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) Whether the time spent by teachers on the preparation of lessons
is included in the seven hours a day that teachers and learners
must be in school; if so, what are the relevant details; if not,
(2) Whether she has taken any steps to obtain the co-operation of
the trade unions representing the teachers; if not, why not; if
so, what steps? NW488E
Answer
(1) The nature of the work done by teachers is such that the volume
differs from day to day, with obvious severe peaks during times when
scripts are being marked, or almost the whole year for a first-year
teacher since all preparation is new. From the second year the
preparation time reduces dramatically for teachers offering the same
subjects to the same grade of learners, obviously not so for those
with different schedules.
Teachers are required to be at schools for 7 hours per day, which
amounts to 35 hours per week. Not all of these hours are utilised for
contact teaching time, and the additional time is meant for
preparation and marking purposes. It is obvious that there will be
times when the 7-hour requirement will not be enough, and the teacher
is then free to either continue working at the school, or to work at
home.
The rationale was that, like the rest of the public servants,
teachers must be able to account for a 40-hour work-week. The
additional 80 hours per year is meant to be utilised for work-related
training and/or preparation and/or marking of scripts and books.
(2) The Acting DG together with the Ministry are in constant contact with
all unions in education. Through the Quality Learning and Teaching
Campaign (QLTC) all stakeholders committed to the upliftment of
education and prioritize the teaching and learning process. A
dedicated team from both labour and the employer is currently working
on campaigns where schools are visited to ensure that the pledges made
by stakeholders are being implemented.
Compiler: JF SLATER
Ext: 6076
MR S PADAYACHEE
ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: SYSTEM PLANNING AND MONITORING
MR B SOOBRAYAN
ACTING DIRECTOR âGENERAL: BASIC EDUCATION
DATE:
QUESTION 415 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS. A. MOTSHEKGA, MP
MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
DATE: