- Teacher professional standards are lacking in South Africa. A basic framework for teaching guidelines and personal and professional conduct must be drawn up and implemented.
- 79% of Grade 6 Mathematics teachers showed content knowledge levels below the Grade 6 band, according to the international SACMEQ study of 2007.
- The quality of teaching is clearly low. Teacher professional standards can improve this by helping to foster a virtuous schooling cycle.
- The lack of teacher accountability is another cause of the poor quality of education. Evaluations are needed to hold teachers accountable to parents, learners and employers for their performances.
- Development must accompany accountability. Teachers need more government support to help them become competent educators.
