Evaluating the Promotion Requirements for the Appointment of Office-Based Educators in the Department of Basic Education in South Africa

Abstract

Various promotion requirements are adopted in the appointment of classroom or subject educators as office-based educators or subject advisors (education specialists) in the Department of Basic Education. This qualitative adopted interpretive paradigm study sought to explore educators' lived experiences on the promotion requirements espoused by the Department for the appointment of qualified educators as office-based educators. Ten educator-participants were purposively selected for a semi-structured, face-to-face interview to collect in-depth data for the study. Collected data were thematically analysed to generate themes for the presentation and discussion of findings. The promotion requirements for office-based educators are inadequately utilised in the selection of suitable candidates for the posts. The study established an unfair promotion process in the appointment of office-based educators, and thus, many qualified educators are disadvantaged. The study recommends that promotion requirements should be adhered to in the selection process, to ensure fairness and social justice for all qualified candidates.