16 May 2006
The Department of Education has noted with great regret the intention of the
South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) to participate in Thursdayâs
(18 May) protest action, led by the Congress of South African Trade Unions
(COSATU).
While defending the right of workers to take such action, the Department
believes that the participation of SADTU will be counter-productive for pupils,
for teachers, and for the country.
The major disappointment is that most affected by the protest action will be
poor, African children, the very people whose interests COSATU and SADTU claim
to represent. As a result of this action, these children (the children of the
workers) will be further under-developed, and less able to participate in the
modern economy we are building in this country. SADTU and COSATU need to
confront this reality, and assess whether their children can be sacrificed in
this way.
In a context where some schools have become sites of violence, the
Department believes it is also highly irresponsible of well-paid professionals
to desert their posts and let children fend for themselves. We therefore appeal
to schools to ensure that adequate arrangements are made for the safety and
welfare of children, and where teachers will not accept this responsibility, to
make use of School Governing Bodies members who can do so.
For teachers, provincial departments of education and school principals have
been directed to closely monitor attendance at schools, and to implement,
without fear or favour, the policy of âno work, no payâ for any teacher absent
on that day.
A single teacher can lose up to R300 for such an absence, which means that
if all SADTU members participate they will collectively sacrifice around R30
million in pay on that day.
For the country, the loss of education will be a tragedy. It may only be one
day, but it is one day too many. If only half the children at school are
affected, we will have lost 6 million âschool daysâ worth of education! Our
need for skills development has been well stated, and the unions have been a
major part of this effort. But if we continue to deny our children education,
as we will in this day of protest, we must not be surprised when we are forced
to recruit skills from other countries that have perhaps not been as
sympathetic to industrial action in education and find our own people
unskilled, uneducated, and unemployable.
SADTU is therefore asked to reconsider their position, in the interests of
the children, the teachers and the country. If necessary, teachers could
participate after school, thus making their point but without prejudicing the
children, who are not the cause of their concerns, but become the victims.
Enquiries:
John Mojapelo.
Chief Director Communication
Cell: 083 650 0033
Issued by: Department of Education
16 May 2006
