Uncertified Teachers Put Public School Budgets at Risk
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Provincial Departments of Basic Education scramble to address the issue of school teachers occupying teaching posts without professional certification. The crackdown comes after the discovery of 20,000 educators who are teaching without valid registration with the South African Council for Educators (SACE).
This move could have major financial and operational consequences for public schools — and accountants working with them need to take note.
What’s the Issue?
By law, all educators must be registered with SACE to teach in public schools. However, many schools have unknowingly hired or retained unregistered teachers, putting them in breach of the Employment of Educators Act.
What This Means for Schools (and Their Accountants):
Staffing costs could spike as uncertified teachers are replaced, sometimes on short notice.
Budgets may need urgent revision to account for recruitment drives, onboarding costs, or salary disparities.
Compliance risk increases if payments continue to educators who are not legally permitted to teach.
Audits may flag irregular expenditure, affecting annual financial statements and compliance reports.
How You Can Address This
Request updated SACE registration lists from principals or HR managers to ensure all teachers are compliant.
Review payroll systems to ensure only certified teachers are being paid from public funds.
Plan for contingencies in upcoming budgets to accommodate potential staffing changes.
Flag the issue early in financial reports if uncertified payments are discovered.
This development is more than just a personnel matter — it’s a compliance and financial risk. Staying informed now helps schools (and their accountants) stay on the right side of the law.
