South African Black Teachers and the Academic Paper Chase

Teachers in South Africa are under great pressure from the state to improve their qualifications, one of the state's strategies for improving education standards. The pressure is felt more acutely by black teachers who were previously allowed to teach with lower qualifications than their white counterparts. In‐service teachers, irrespective of their age or length of experience, are required to obtain the school leavers’ certificate post hoc to earn a salary commensurate with their duties. Their duties are heavy: the pupil‐teacher ratio is about 45:1, and teachers teach between 42 and 50 periods a week, without many basic facilities. Consequently, many teachers are neglecting their pupils to concentrate on their studies. The call for qualifications can be viewed as a component of the South African state's reform initiative, and, as such, is yet another cosmetic amelioration of black people's status because it does not address their needs.