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By Johnathan Paoli
The South African Teachers’ Union (SAOU) has called for a sustained, year-long celebration and recognition of teachers, warning that the emotional strain, professional isolation, and looming teacher shortages threaten the stability of the country’s education system.
SAOU executive officer, Paul Sauer, said this decision reflects the urgent need for deeper, more consistent appreciation for educators, particularly at a time when many are leaving the profession due to exhaustion and lack of support.
“In the current circumstances, where teachers are experiencing emotional exhaustion and where the wellness of teachers can be measured by the number of good teachers leaving the education system, the time has come to provide more focused acknowledgement to our teachers,” Sauer said.
The SAOU’s call for greater recognition comes against the backdrop of a worldwide crisis in teacher supply.
According to data from UNESCO and Education International, there is currently a global shortage of 44 million teachers capable of meeting basic education needs.
Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, has been hit hard by this shortfall, with the number of qualified teachers declining sharply over the past two decades.
UNESCO’s 2025 Fact Sheet reveals that the proportion of qualified primary school teachers in the region has dropped from 85% to 69%, while qualified secondary school teachers have decreased from 79% to 59%.
This decline coincides with a rising population of school-age children and the introduction of early childhood development (ECD) programmes, which have increased the demand for teachers even further.
Since 2000, Africa’s expansion of ECD initiatives has created a global need for an additional six million preschool teachers, UNESCO reports.
The union warned that unless South Africa takes proactive steps to retain its teaching workforce, the country could face severe teacher shortages within the next 15 years.
Sauer expressed concern about the Basic Education department’s proposed Early Retirement Programme, which would allow teachers aged 55 to 59 to exit the system voluntarily.
While intended to rejuvenate the teaching workforce, Sauer said the policy could “escalate the problem” by accelerating the loss of experienced educators at a time when replacements are already scarce.
In addition to early retirements, South Africa continues to lose qualified teachers through emigration and career changes.
Many educators seek opportunities abroad or in other sectors due to better pay, improved working conditions, or professional development prospects.
Sauer highlighted the emotional and social dimensions of teaching, noting that educators often struggle with professional isolation and a lack of institutional support.
Strong relationships between teachers, parents, learners, and school management teams are essential to fostering a healthy school environment, the union said.
Without this sense of connection and recognition, teacher morale, and by extension, learner outcomes, inevitably decline.
As nearly one million learners across the country begin their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, the union reminded South Africans that behind every matriculant stands a team of teachers who have guided them from their first day in Grade R.
“Teaching is a work of heart, and teachers are at the heart of education,” Sauer said.
The union appealed to communities to show tangible support for educators, not only during October but throughout the year, including public recognition, encouragement and collaboration between schools and communities to improve teachers’ working conditions.
INSIDE EDUCATION