DA condemns ANAs Boycott

26 November 2015

The DA condemns the SADTU-led teacher union boycott of the Annual National Assessments (ANAs).

Yesterday, SADTU dared the Department of Basic Education to “slap all 400 000 teachers in the country with disciplinary action” for refusing to implement the ANAs.

This fighting talk from SADTU does nothing to advance the best interests of the children of South Africa, and everything to advance SADTU’s own agenda.

While everybody agrees that the Annual National Assessments are far from perfect, they do assist in measuring the quality of maths and language education and in determining where interventions are necessary.

SADTU’s job is to protect the labour rights of its members. It is not to dictate education policy.

There will be time and space early next year for all stakeholders to discuss the best way to remodel the ANAs. For its part, the DA will certainly recommend the introduction of systemic testing along the lines of the Western Cape model.

In the meantime, we hope that Minister Motshekga will hold the line and forge ahead with the Annual National Assessments. We need to send out a clear signal that our children’s education will not be held hostage.

Issued by Gavin Davis, Shadow Minister of Basic Education, DA, 26 November 2015