At least 60 Gauteng educators cited mental health issues for taking early retirement between 2023 and 2024, while 1,599 across the country quit early due to ill health and stress during the same period.
The Gauteng education department GDE said at least 261 teachers retired on medical grounds between 2023 and 2024, and 60 of them were due to mental health problems.
Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane raised alarm over the growing mental health crisis among teachers, who cited stress, overcrowded classrooms and school violence as key contributors that have led to a surge in absenteeism and early retirements across the province.
