South African teachers are set to get a boost in their pockets
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South African teachers are set to get a boost in their pockets after Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube announced the latest salary adjustment for public school educators.
In a Government Gazette published on Friday, the Minister set out the annual cost-of-living adjustment for teachers, saying that the increase forms part of improved conditions of service for public sector educators.
The adjustment, which takes effect from April 1 2026, is based on a Public Sector Co-ordinating Bargaining Council agreement and related directives issued by the Department of Public Service and Administration.
It applies to all qualifying educators and adjusts salary scales that were in place until March 31 2025.
"In accordance with the Public Sector Co-ordinating Bargaining Council Resolution 1 of 2025 read with applicable directives in Circular No. 20 of 2026 issued by the Director-General of the Department of Public Service and Administration, I hereby determine, for all qualifying employees employed in terms of the Employment of Educators Act (EEA), 1998, an improvement in conditions of service".
"The applicable salary adjustment effective from 01 April 2026 for the relevant categories of employees is detailed in the salary scales in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 as attached".
Figures contained in the notice show that teachers at the entry level will now receive a starting salary of R169,707 per year, up from R163,179 in 2025. This increase translates to about R14,142 a month before deductions and reflects the lowest point on the national educator pay structure.
The adjustment also extends to more experienced educators and those in higher qualification and responsibility brackets, with salaries increasing in line with their grade progression and notch placement within the system.
At the top end, school leaders such as departmental heads, deputy principals, and principals will also get the increase, with principals in the highest-paid category now earning up to R1.33 million a year.
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