[imagesource: Flickr]

If a teacher was just a teacher, then sure, the gig is not bad at all.

They get, on average, up to four months “off” when students go on break and they earn very decently, according to data from Stellenbosch University’s Research on Socio-Economic Policy (RESEP).

Showing how much the average teacher in South Africa earns, RESEP has pointed out that the average teacher is in the top 5% of income distribution in South Africa.

Irene Pampall, a researcher at RESEP, revealed that the average government teacher earned R42 688 per month in salary and benefits in 2019, according to BusinessTech.

While many teachers believe they earn less than that, they don’t always factor in all the benefits that add up in a year, researchers note:

Image: BusinessTech

Pampall notes that a teacher’s basic salary is determined by their relevant qualifications and where that places them on the salary scale provided by the government:

“For example, a teacher with a matric and four years of university education would enter Notch 164,” said Pampall. This would translate to a basic salary of R284,238 in their first year of employment or R23,686 monthly. Pampall added that most teachers experience pay progression every year, with older teachers traditionally earning more than their younger counterparts.

Additionally, all permanent teachers receive an employee pension contribution equal to 13% of the basic salary, plus an annual service bonus (a lekker 13th cheque equal to the basic salary).

They can also choose to join the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) to receive a medical aid subsidy, and apply for a housing allowance, which adds on R1 500 per month.

Then, of course, comes the supposed free time when the school goes on term/mid-term breaks. Typically, the government school year includes the following breaks (the dates change slightly each year):

• First term break: 18 March – 4 April.
• Second term break: 25 June – 18 July.
• Third term break: 1–10 October.
• Fourth term break: 15 December – 12 January.

However, because a teacher is not just a teacher, all these ‘perks’ kind of gets blown a little out the window.

Teachers, especially those in lower-income government schools, often have to perform as second parents and administrators, which means their job is never over, come the end of the school day/term.

The paperwork and responsibility of having a classroom full of needy kids all day can often leave teachers overwhelmed and on the verge of burnout.

You try marking 70+ essays in a night or coming up with feedback and accurate grading for every child’s report card. Eish.

The pay might be good but teachers need to catch more of a break, to be honest.

[source:businesstech]