The Star reports that a blame game has erupted between the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and teacher unions following the release of a damning report that has revealed a raft of irregularities involving teachers.  

The report by the SA Council of Educators (SACE), released on Monday, showed amongst other things that at least 20 teachers have been plying their trade using fraudulently acquired qualifications.  A massive campaign to find other rogue teachers is under way.  Thirty-three others were struck off the roll indefinitely for offences including sexual relationship and impregnation of pupils, rape, selling drugs to schoolchildren, indecent assault and severe assault of pupils.  Teacher unions blamed the DBE, saying that it had been very lax in verifying new teachers’ qualifications.  DBE spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga dismissed the unions’ accusations, insisting that it wasn’t their task to accredit teachers.

• Read this report by Tebogo Monama and Ntando Makhubu in full at The Star
• Read too, Limpopo teacher of almost 20 years in hot water over 'fake' degree, at TimesLive

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page