Bhisho doesn't want to employ more teachers

WITH reference to The Herald article, "Teacher shortage lurches on" (June 24), according to Eastern Cape education boss Mthunywa Ngonzo, the province finds it difficult to fill vacancies due to the fact some schools need Afrikaans-speaking teachers because of the medium of instruction. "The department simply don't have the pool of excess teachers," he was quoted as saying.

The problem lies with department's reluctance to employ teachers.

I am a Xhosa-speaking qualified teacher with a secondary teacher's diploma majoring in Afrikaans and geography. Having taught for more than a decade, I took out a voluntary severance package in 1996.

I re-entered the profession in 2007 and taught until last year as a substitute, temporary and even as a volunteer teacher!

I am currently unemployed, having left teaching last year.

There is no way I won't be able to offer geography, life orientation, technology, etc in Afrikaans. I am touched by the plight of those schools without teachers as I am from this district.

Food for thought, Mr Ngonzo!

Name supplied, Graaff-Reinet