We are a group of full time-employed music educators with years of work experience in the SA school system teaching Music. Some of us are the sole breadwinner in the family. We feel that we have been discriminated against and unjustly refused permanent registration with SACE. We have been informed by SACE that we are no longer able to apply for provisional registration (as we used to in the past) and we have been given a year to produce proof of teaching competency in the form of a PGCE qualification in order to be permanently registered with SACE and acknowledged as educators. We insist on: 

1. Permanent SACE registration number on the strength of our Degree and work experience.
   We have been teaching with huge success for many years as can clearly be seen from the Gr 12 results in Music over the past 40 years. The Music subject has the most distinctions percentage-wise and no learner has ever failed Music. 
2. Official recognition of the international teaching licentiates and diplomas (ABRSM, TRINITY and LCM) by SACE and the relevant tertiary institutions.
   There is an increasing number of music educators in the country opting for teaching diplomas and licentiates from internationally recognised music examination boards. These institutions are recognised all over the world as leaders in providing assessments and qualifications in music. All their qualifications and courses have been regulated by Ofqual with Regulated Qualifications Framework levels awarded.
3. Providing opportunities to comply with the legislation and enrol/complete online PGCE - Music course.
   As most of us are employed full time we can only attend an online PGCE course. At the moment there is only ONE university offering an online PGCE in Music for SP and FET. One of the requirements to enrol in the PGCE course is to have a second school subject studied on 2nd or 3rd-year level. Which makes the only online PGCE course in the country inaccessible for full time employed teachers. There are NO online courses are available for Creative Arts/Music in Foundation or Intermediate Phase. 
4. Music subject-based PGCE 
   The requirement of a second, not music related school subject, at a 2nd or 3rd-year level as a prerequisite to enrol in PGCE with Music course, is unjustified and unrealistic. It is an example of the lack of understanding around the specifics of the Music subject. 

In conclusion, we would like to encourage the relevant Institutions to play a more active role in establishing a quality music education by acknowledging and taking into account the specifics of Music teaching and allowing professional musicians with extensive teaching experience to teach.