The Northern Cape Education Department has established a task team to investigate the alarming rate of high school dropouts in the province, with over 4,000 learners leaving the system in the first quarter of this year alone.
Officials revealed that the majority of these learners were enrolled in Grades 8, 9, and 10 at the end of 2023 but did not return to school this year. The department is now working to determine the underlying causes behind the disheartening trend.
“We can confirm that 4,030 high school learners have dropped out,” said a department spokesperson during a briefing in Kimberley. “We have embarked on measures to understand the reasons behind this number and have assembled a team to investigate further.”
The task team will analyze available data and engage with schools, communities, School Governing Bodies (SGBs), and parents to address three key issues: learner dropouts, low learner throughput rates, and high levels of learner and teacher absenteeism.
Teacher Shortages Compound the Problem
The announcement came during the provincial launch of GAV Recruit, a digital e-recruitment system designed to streamline teacher hiring. While the Northern Cape does not face an extreme teacher vacancy rate, it struggles to fill critical positions—particularly in mathematics.
Currently, 18 high schools in the province are unable to offer pure mathematics due to a lack of qualified teachers—an improvement from previous years when 40 schools lacked the subject.
“Math and science are critical subjects, especially in STEM fields,” the department noted. “There is a shortage of qualified teachers in these areas.”
To address the gap, the department is collaborating with Sol Plaatje University to recruit education students specializing in STEM subjects.
Digital Recruitment System Aims to Improve Hiring
Northern Cape Premier Dr. Zamani Saul praised the new GAV Recruit system as a significant step forward in digitizing teacher recruitment. The platform also enhances vetting processes by flagging individuals listed on the South African Child Protection Register, ensuring safer school environments.
As the province works to bring missing learners back to school and strengthen its educator workforce, the focus remains on improving retention and academic support—particularly in crucial subjects like mathematics.
