ACTS

• The South African Schools Act, No. 84 of 1996 [SASA]
• The National Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No. 27 of 1996) [NEPA]
• Employment of Educators Act 76 of 1998 [EEA]

1. Clarification of concepts
   • What is induction?
     According to Grobler et al. (Human Resource Management, 2002:208) induction is the process of introducing educators to the goals of the school, its policies and procedures, its values and co-workers, as well as the activities to be performed and the teaching aids to be used.
   • Induction programme
     Grobler et al states that an effective induction program will reduce the adjustment problems for newly appointed educators by creating a sense of security, confidence and belonging.  The following benefits can accordingly result from an effective induction programme, namely:
     • higher job satisfaction,
     • higher performance as a result of faster learning times,
     • reduction of absenteeism and
     • a better understanding of school policies, vision and procedures.
2. Induction policy
   The principal, SMT and educators should jointly draw up a properly formulated induction programme for newly appointed educators.
   Orientation on the following aspects can be considered as part of an induction policy:
   • The School policy
   • Relevant subject policies
   • The South African Schools Act
   • The Employment of Educators Act and Personnel Administration Measures
   • The National Curriculum Statement
   • Code of conduct for learners and educators
   • What constitutes misconduct?
   • How to discipline
   • Classroom practice
   • The use of different teaching strategies
   • How to conduct a parent meeting
   • Safety procedures at the school
   • Handling of monies
   • How to deal with learners with learning difficulties
   • The School Management Team
   • What constitutes a proper academic standard
   • Assessment of learners
   • The use of teaching aids
3. The Mentor System
   The Mentor System should be considered.  A mentor will help the educator to reduce frustrations.  A mentor is a fellow educator involved in assisting the beginner educator to learn to teach in a school-based setting.  The mentor can assist with discipline and classroom management, lesson planning and routines but also with moral support, guidance and feedback.