There is chaos in Limpopo and North West Provinces after the departments of education did not renew contracts in December 2021 of experienced foreign teachers and then failed to replace them with locals.
254 foreign teachers were fired in Limpopo and 211 in North West.
This has resulted in the remaining teachers having to attend to Maths and Physical Sciences classes of up to 70 students.
The fired foreign teachers told the Sunday Times Newspaper that they were not told in advance that their contracts would not be renewed.
We dont understand why even holders of pErmanent residence and SA identity cards were fired.
Professor Chika Sehoole, Dean of Education at the University of Pretoria, said:
If they were fired because they are foreigners, then we are shooting ourselves in the foot. It is well known that our education system has failed to produce skills in the Science, Technology  Engineering and Maths fields.
Asked if the positions left vacant after the foreigners were fired have been filled, Limpopo department spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, said the department is still collating information.
North West education spokesman, Elias Malindi said the department intends to recruit 148 unemployed new teachers who were recepients of the government ‘s Fundza Lushaka bursary scheme to replace the fired 211 foreign techers.
Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga’ spokesperson, Hope Mokgalhe, said many provinces have discontinued the use of foreigners in favor of locals.
Please read the full story in today’s Sunday Times newspaper – 13 February 2021.
