Education in the Eastern Cape is in a crisis
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) in the Eastern Cape has sent out alarm bells - the education system in the province is on the brink of collapse unless the powers that be take drastic measures to save the situation.
The 2011 school calendar year has begun on a disastrous note in the province as thousands of learners cannot reach schools due to the suspension of scholar transport; the suspension of the school nutrition programme which to many poverty-stricken learners is the only source of a meal; the non-renewal of contracts of temporary teachers which has left thousands of learners without teachers; 1 130 Section 20 schools have not received learner materials due to alleged fraud in the tendering processes.
The Department has made a declaration of 69 390 posts for 2010, but never issued a single post Level One bulletin for the temporary educators in substantive posts to get an opportunity to apply.
A teacher at Gobindlovu J.S.S. in Libode received an appointment letter in January 2010, with the last sentence saying: "your service is required until the post is advertised". That teacher was shocked to death to discover that the Department of Education has decided to pay a nil cheque on the 20th January 2011. There are many such like victims.
As SADTU we cannot fold our arms when the education of the children from the poor and working class communities is being sabotaged by those who take home a huge chunk from the tax payers' coffers but elect to do the opposite of what their mandate demands, whilst on the other hand the corrupt and the corruptors of the department are enjoying an uninterrupted honeymoon.
We have come to realize and accept the fact that unless we confront these miscalculated counter-productive "turn-around strategies" and absorb the punches from those whose motto in such instances is "blame the victim", no one will save us from this wanton destruction. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
The Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) has therefore taken the following decisions:
- The PEC demands that all these counter-productive measures embarked upon by the powers that be, both in Government and the Department of Education, must be stopped forth-with.
- All Temporary Educators whose services have been terminated (some of them verbally and others silently) must be reinstated as a matter of extreme urgency.
- All Educators whose salaries have not been paid at the end of January 2011 be paid as a matter of urgency.
- The ongoing identification of "excess" educators should be put on hold pending agreement in the Provincial Education Labour Relations Chamber (PELRC).
- The ongoing teacher head count / profile verification be put on hold pending proper engagement and agreement with parties in the PELRC.
- The issues of reversal of salaries and/or money paid to the Department of Education personnel be opened for engagement in Chamber.
- The conclusion of the discussion around No Work No Pay deductions in the Provincial Chamber.
We note with concern the attitude and cynical disregard for our appeals on the part of the powers that be in our Province.
Ninety nine point nine percent (99.9%) of the demands we presented during our march on the 3rd of June 2010 remain unattended.
Statement issued by Fezeka Loliwe SADTU Eastern Cape Provincial Secretary, January 25 2011
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