Hon Deputy Speaker, the rural allowance paid to teachers in the rural areas is no longer being given to them, except in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and the latter is considering withdrawing it. This would be a great disservice not only to the teachers but also to the learners in those rural areas.
It is vital that schools in the deep rural areas, no-fee schools and remote schools are able to attract teachers, as these are places that most teachers will not go to without an incentive. Cutting the rural allowance will discourage teachers from going to these areas and most will apply for transfers to schools closer to urban areas.
The rural incentive is about more than money. It helps sustain teacher distribution in rural areas, and more needs to be done to support teachers and not to handicap them. I thank you, Deputy Speaker.