Western Cape schools to maintain teaching posts amid budget concerns

Amid fears of continued teaching posts being cut, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has assured the sector would not see another reduction for 2026.

The news comes a year after the WCED cut 2 407 teaching posts for 2025 due to a significant budget shortfall.

Education MEC, David Maynier, said they are now able to provide for 35 934 posts, and schools will receive their individual staff establishments for 2026.

“Brent Walters, our Head of Department, issued a circular to schools outlining staffing processes for the 2026 academic year, and confirmed that the Basket of Posts allocation for 2025 will be retained for 2026,” he said.

“We will be able to provide for 35 934 posts, and schools will receive their individual staff establishments for 2026.

“This follows consultations with teachers’ unions and School Governing Body (SGB) associations regarding the total number of teaching posts for the 2026 school year.

“Last year, we made the difficult decision to reduce the number of teaching posts in our system, in order to remain fiscally sustainable.

“We chose to protect critical learner support services like school nutrition and transport, school Norms and Standards payments, and support for Learners with Special Education Needs.

“But we know that our decision to reduce posts placed significant strain on our schools.

“While the Basket of Posts allocation for 2025 will remain the same for 2026, we recognise that the number of learners in our school system will continue to grow next year.”

He said they continued to face uncertainty.

“Responding to growth is dependent on having more certainty regarding the budget, and so we will only be able to make decisions about this once we have more budget certainty for the 2026 school year,” he added.

“We are also working closely with other provinces to support the national Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, in engaging the National Treasury regarding the need for additional funding for the education sector.”

Riedwaan Ahmed, provincial chief officer for the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) challenged the announcement.

"The proposed educator post basket for 2026 stands at 35 934, reflecting no change i.e. no increase or decrease in the number of allocated posts,” he said.

“We continue to engage with the WCED, Department of Basic Education and National Treasury in the lead up to the National Budget and PPN (Post Provisionally Norms) workshop, scheduled for October 2025.”

Peter Johnson DA Western Cape spokesperson on education, added despite the announcement, strain would follow inside the classroom.

"This places additional strain on the education system, requiring not only more teachers but also greater investment in essential learner support services such as school nutrition, learner transport, and assistance for children with special needs," he said.

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