Challenges facing schools as a results of experienced educators exiting the system earlier a case study of Soutpansberg East Circuit

Abstract

The study is based on challenges facing schools as a result of experienced educators exiting the education system. Retaining effective experienced teachers is a particular challenge. Statistics shows that from year 2015 to date (2018), 111 educators have exited the education system at Soutpansberg East circuit. There are number of factors that cause teachers to exit the education system, amongst others are, old age, sickness, failure to cope with new changes, career dissatisfaction, low salaries, lack of discipline amongst learners, overcrowded classrooms. As a result of these, schools suffer from lack of experienced educators; the Department of Education, communities and learners pay a price. Department of Education hence must find ways to keep their highly-skilled and experienced educators. The researcher used a mixed method approach, that is, both qualitative and quantitative research method to carry out the study. The population of the study was obtained using non - probability sampling and data was gathered from the defined population. Two data collection instruments were used, namely, interviews and questionnaires while analyses were through thematic analysis and using the statistical package for social analysis. Data collected through questionnaires was analyzed using statistical analysis while the interviews data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Ethical considerations were observed when conducting the study. The researcher found that the following are the key challenges faced by schools at Soutpansberg East regarding educators exiting the system earlier. Experienced educators are difficult to replace and the process of replacing an educator takes too long. Process of teaching and learning is compromised. Scarce skills for specific subjects are difficult to replace. New educators are not able to deal with disciplinary problems in the classrooms and the school at large. The schools are always experiencing problems of allocation of work and time tabling . The following factors were found to be the causes that induce teachers to abandon their calling. Educators are not getting enough salaries and benefits in relation to their work. The introduction of qualified conditional pass in schools is causing v frustration. Some educators are exiting because they are concerned about their safety at schools. Some educators are failing to maintain discipline since the removal of corporal punishment. Most of them are in debts. The researcher proposed the following recommendation to lessen experienced educators from exiting the education system. Pay teachers accordingly so that the experienced educators can be encouraged to stay in the profession. Measures to deal with disciplinary problems in the classrooms and the school at large should be put in place. Learners should be given counseling regarding the new system of conditional pass, its advantages and disadvantages to lessen the frustration it causes to educators .Security at school should be strengthened as it is clear from the findings that some educators are exiting the system early because they are concerned about their safety at schools Educators should be given education regarding their finances as soon as they get employed. Wellness education should be prompted to assist the educators who are in debts. Educators who are in debts can be given access to their pension funds to pay off their debts as long as the process is monitored.