Qualified but unemployed teachers in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) are now able to apply for vacancies from the comfort of their homes, via cellphone.
This after the education department in that province introduced its KZN Qualified Educators mobile app, which it says aims to make the hiring system “transparent and easy”.
While KZN education isn’t the first government department to introduce an app as part of digital transformation efforts, it is the first to go the mobile route for application of teacher posts.
The new platform allows applicants, the potential teacher or principal, to register on the department’s database for vacant teacher posts.
As part of the registration process, the applicant will be allowed to upload qualification documents and specify subjects they are qualified to teach.
According to the department, principals will be able to indicate if their schools are in need of teachers before the system pulls a certain number of teachers meeting the specified criteria and provides that list of teachers to the school concerned.
The app will then alert the shortlisted teachers, which will be followed by districts facilitating the process and the head office playing an oversight role. This will be followed by an approval after the HR processes are done by the head office and head of department, who will ultimately appoint the candidate, who will be informed by the app.
Kwazi Mshengu, KZN MEC for education, says the app aims to eliminate manipulation of candidate placements or appointments, ensuring a teacher is provided to the school as soon as possible after making a request.
“The new chapter that we are opening will, without any doubt, be an attraction for those that want to pursue a career in teaching but who were beginning to lose hope due to frustrations associated with applying for posts.
“We are ensuring all the qualified teachers that are still looking for jobs within our province should henceforth have the pleasure of applying in the easiest ways ever imagined in the history of looking for employment as a teacher.”
Varied feedback
The app, which is available for download from iOS and Google Play Store, is so far receiving mixed reviews.
Users who have downloaded the app are using the reviews page on Google Play Store to comment on some of the app’s highlights and air their grievances.
One user, Thembi Dlamini, says: “The app is great and useful; it is well-structured, clear, easily accessible and easy to use. I hope it will serve its purpose.”
Siyabonga Mdluli also praised the KZN education department for a “great” job. However, he says there are some glitches on the app, especially after uploading the relevant required documents, and adds that some click-through pages don’t work. “Would you please attend to this issue? Otherwise keep it up with the excellent deeds!”
“It was easy to register even though some subjects doesn't [sic] appear in the app,” says Mandla Mwandla.
On the other hand, Vuyisile Venessa is less than impressed. “I wouldn't give this app even one star; it has so many glitches, and it doesn't even go past uploading documents. Seriously, this can't be what KZN teachers have been waiting on for the past month. It's useless!!”
Zamakhuzeni Zikalala also expressed feelings of discontent, saying: “App malfunctions, it's useless! One can't even edit a profile.”
“The glitches are endless, the app keeps stopping,” states Khetha Mbatha.
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