Discussion Paper 26. Turbulence or orderly change? Teacher supply and demand in South Africa - current status, future needs and the impact of HIV/Aids.
Abstract
This paper explores five aspects of the factors that are shaping the supply and demand for teachers in South Africa. First it charts the nature of the South African teacher force and changes that have taken place in its composition since 1995. Second, it profiles patterns of income amongst teachers and makes comparisons with the labour force as a whole. Third, an analysis is presented of the characteristics of teacher turnover. Fourth some forecasts of teacher demand are generated under a variety of assumptions. Fifth, attention is drawn to the implications that flow from the uneven incidence of HIV/AIDS on teacher supply and demand. The last section draws together conclusions from the various analyses that are relevant to future teacher education policy.
The picture that emerges from the analysis provides insights into current status and future needs that is not accessible through any other methods. It draws attention to the current status of the teaching force, how it is changing, and how it may need to change to meet new demands. It also identifies some characteristics of teachers that may not be widely appreciated and which contradict some commonly held assumptions.
Citation
Sussex, UK: Centre for International Education, 36 pp.
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