Programme Director

Deputy Minister for Basic Education: Dr Reginah Mhaule, MP

Director-General of Basic Education, Mr. M Mweli

Deputy Director Generals from the DBE

Other officials from the Department of Basic Education

Chief Executive of SACE, Ms. E Mokgalane

Chairperson of SACE, Mr. Mabutho Cele

SACE Councillors’

SACE Officials

Leaders from all teacher unions present.

Officials from Provinces

Principals from schools and other learning sites

All teachers from schools across the various Provinces

A special welcome to the ECD practitioners / Educator Assistants / educator therapist /office-based educators /Paraprofessionals in education and other professions / college lecturers

Officials from other departments

Delegates from our sister Countries

Ladies and gentlemen

It is my great honour to welcome you all to the first-ever National Teachers’ Conference in South Africa, held under the aegis of the South African Council for Educators (SACE).

With great pleasure, I speak at this first-ever National Teachers’

Conference with the theme, “The Teaching Profession in Our Hands, Our Voices and Plight Matter.”

The theme of this conference is a fitting reminder of the crucial role that teachers play in shaping the future of education.

By taking charge of their profession and making their voices heard, teachers can drive discussions and solutions that advance the profession both locally and internationally.

Let us support and empower our teachers as they lead the charge in shaping the future of education.

This conference also reflects SACE’s commitment to empowering teachers and furthering the distribution of knowledge in the teaching profession.

As a professional self-regulatory body, SACE has a crucial role in maintaining and promoting high standards in the teaching profession.

Today, we come together to celebrate and recognize our teachers’ hard work and dedication and find practical solutions to their challenges.

As the Minister of Basic Education, I am fully aware of teachers’ vital role in shaping our nation’s future.

Our teachers are the backbone of our education system and play a critical role in ensuring that our learners receive the quality basic education they deserve.

This conference is for the teachers, by the teachers, and it provides a platform for teachers to engage in discussions to advance the noble profession of teaching.

I am confident that this conference will be a productive and valuable opportunity for our teachers to share their experiences, learn from one another, and find practical solutions to their challenges.

I look forward to hearing the discussions and recommendations from this conference and working with our teachers to implement these solutions.

Programme director, I stand before you today to speak about the immense value of teachers in South Africa’s context.

As the Minister of Basic Education, I have observed our teachers’ hard work and dedication first hand.

I am here today to formally acknowledge their contributions to the development of our society and our basic education system ecosystem.

As we know, teachers play a critical role in shaping the future of our nation by inculcating a culture of academic rigour amongst the youth.

They are responsible for providing our learners with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to succeed in life.

They are the ones who instil a love of learning, who inspire and motivate our learners, and who make a lasting impact on their lives.

Teachers are also at the forefront of the fight against poverty, inequality, and social injustice.

Through their teaching, they can break the cycle of poverty and provide our learners with the tools they need to succeed beyond the classroom.

They also play a critical role in promoting social cohesion and fostering a sense of national identity and pride.

Furthermore, teachers are valuable in South Africa’s context because they are leaders and role models in their communities.

They serve as ambassadors for public education and as advocates for social change.

Their influence extends far beyond the classroom, and they play an important role in shaping public opinion on important social and educational issues.

I am confident that this conference will serve as a catalyst for positive change in the teaching profession beyond this conference.

I encourage all teachers to take advantage of this opportunity to come together and engage in meaningful discussions; let this not be a onceoff event.

I also extend my gratitude to SACE for organizing this conference and their continued efforts to promote and maintain the highest standards in the teaching profession.

This conference offers me an opportunity to address the critical role of our teachers in the post-COVID-19 environment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to our basic education system.

Yet, I am proud to say that our teachers have risen to the occasion, showing remarkable resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

In a post-COVID-19 world, the role of our teachers has become even more important as we work to rebuild and revitalize our basic education system.

As I said before, our teachers are the backbone of our basic education system and play a vital role in shaping the next generation’s minds.

As we move forward, it is crucial that we support our teachers and provide them with the necessary resources and training to succeed in this new normal.

The rapid shift to online and blended learning has created new demands on our teachers, and we must support them as they adapt to these new teaching methods.

Our teachers need access to ongoing professional development opportunities, technology, and resources to continue providing the best possible education to our learners.

Furthermore, we must acknowledge and address the mental and emotional impact of the pandemic and social ills on our teachers.

The stress and uncertainty caused by the pandemic and social ills have taken a toll on our teachers, and we must support them in their wellbeing.

This includes providing them access to mental health services and creating a supportive working environment that recognizes their efforts and sacrifices.

One of the most significant challenges teachers face in South Africa today is the impact of social ills on the learning environment.

Violence, crime, and poverty create a hostile and unstable environment for both teachers and learners and make it difficult for teachers to provide a safe and supportive learning environment.

This has a significant impact on teacher morale and on the quality of education provided to our learners.

Poverty is another major challenge faced by teachers in South Africa.

Many of our learners come from disadvantaged communities, and our teachers face the daily burden of providing care and support to learners from broken homes.

This creates a significant burden on their time and energy and makes it difficult for them to focus entirely on their teaching duties.

Finally, the burden of diseases, particularly the impact of the COVID19 pandemic, has put a strain on our basic education system and our teachers.

The pandemic has created new demands on our teachers and required them to adapt to new teaching and learning methods.

At the same time, many teachers are struggling with the impact of the pandemic on their own health and well-being, and they need support and resources to continue providing quality education to our learners.

I envision a future in which we have a social compact for teachers, a ten-point plan that addresses the needs and challenges facing the teaching profession in South Africa.

This plan would provide a roadmap for improving teachers’ working conditions and support and ensure they have the resources and support they need to provide quality education to our learners.

The draft ten-point plan is as follows:

Increase teacher salaries and benefits to make the teaching profession more attractive and competitive.

Provide additional training and professional development opportunities to help teachers stay up-to-date with best practices and new technologies.

Improve school infrastructure and provide teachers with the resources and technology they need to deliver quality education.

Address teacher shortages by increasing teacher recruitment and retention initiatives and by providing incentives for teachers to work in underserved areas.

Address safety and security concerns by implementing measures to make schools safer for teachers and learners.

Provide teachers with access to mental health support and wellness programs to help them manage the stresses and demands of their profession.

Encourage partnerships between schools, communities, and businesses to provide additional support and resources for teachers and learners.

Provide additional support for teachers in the areas of curriculum development, assessment, and technology integration.

Address the root causes of poverty, inequality, and social injustice, which are major challenges for teachers and learners.

Foster a culture of respect and recognition for teachers, and promote their role as valued and respected members of our society.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the immense value of teachers in South Africa’s context.

Their contribution to our education ecosystem, society, and learners’ lives is immeasurable, and they deserve our gratitude and support, not scorn and derision.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the numerous challenges teachers face in our country.

Despite these obstacles, our teachers remain committed to providing quality education to our learners.

As a country, we owe every teacher an enormous debt of gratitude.

Let us work together to ensure that this conference serves as a platform for the advancement of the teaching profession and that it becomes a stepping stone for positive change in the future.

I look forward to working with our teachers, the basic education sector mandarins, and communities to solve these challenges and build a better future for our nation.

I thank you.

Source: Government of South Africa