The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) welcomes the undertaking by student organisation, the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) to suspend the learner strike which affected learning and preparations for exams for thousands of learners across the country. The NYDA is of the view that the strike as it were, was not in anyone’s best interest, rather to the detriment of learners who are supposed to be sitting for their preliminary exams in preparation for the final exams.
“We welcome the announcement to suspend the strike and encourage learners to use the available time preparing for their exams. We further call on student leadership and government to negotiate in good faith for a speedily resolution to the impasse as we cannot afford further loss of learning time as learners have already lost valuable time due to the World Cup and the strike by teachers,” says NYDA Chairperson Andile Lungisa.
Meanwhile the NYDA condemns with the contempt it deserves, actions of trigger happy police who confronted striking learners with unwarranted brutality, allegedly leading to the death of one learner in the Free State. “We cannot imagine any amount of provocation that can lead to police using live ammunition on demonstrating learners,” says Lungisa. He said such incidents were reminiscent of the past, of-which the country did not wish to relive and as such should not be repeated.
“In the best interest of improving the levels of education in the country, we will continue to support the government efforts of ensuring a culture of teaching and learning. Teachers are expected to be in class on time teaching and learners are expected to be in class on time, learning,” concludes Lungisa.
For media enquiries contact
Siyabonga Magadla
Cell: 083 686 9016
E-mail: smagadla@nyda.gov.za
