The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has announced that teaching posts for 2026 will not be reduced.

Last year, the Department made the difficult decision to reduce the number of teaching posts, arguing it was needed to stay fiscally sustainable, and to protect critical learner support services like school nutrition and transport, school Norms and Standards payments, and support for Learners with Special Education Needs.

Earlier this week, the Head of Department, Brent Walters, issued a circular to schools confirming that the Basket of Posts allocation for 2025 will be retained for 2026.

This amounts to 35,934 teaching posts throughout the province, and the Department says schools will receive their individual staff establishments for next year on Friday, 29 August.

Consultations with teachers’ unions and School Governing Body (SGB) associations were also held regarding the total number of teaching posts for the 2026 school year.

The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in the Western Cape slammed the WCED’s decision to maintain the same number of posts for 2026, warning that this will deepen existing pressures on schools and governing bodies.

MEC David Maynier has acknowledged that not adding additional posts will add strain, taking into account the yearly influx of learners from other provinces.

But he says the Department continues to face significant budget restraints over the medium term.

“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. 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.”

Maynier has thanked all teachers, principals and officials for the support they have given, and continue to give, to learners.

“It is through your efforts that we have been able to maintain a stable education system for the children of the Western Cape.”