Pay Mpumalanga teachers immediately, demands FEDSAS

THOUSANDS of temporary teachers in Mpumalanga did not receive their salaries yesterday (28 February 2011). This is the second month that there is a problem with salary payments in this province, and some of these teachers are now faced with severe financial problems.

"This situation could be laid squarely at the feet of the Mpumalanga Education Department," says Mrs Constanze van der Walt, provincial manager of the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS) in Mpumalanga. She says the department did not complete its post provision before the 30 September deadline at the end of last year, and has been in crisis-mode since the beginning of this year. The contracts of thousands of temporary teachers were extended until the end of this month, but now these teachers aren't getting paid.

This situation shows several similarities with the Eastern Cape, where FEDSAS and its education partner, the South African Teachers' Union, had to take action which led to an urgent court order.

"FEDSAS is worried about the burden that this non-payment is placing on its members.

"Some governing bodies had to stand in for the department and pay the salaries of departmental teachers, but it puts a lot of pressure on these governing bodies. There is no guarantee that the department will ever repay this money. It's a huge risk for our members, but it appears to be the only way to ensure that there are teachers in the classrooms," says Van der Walt.

FEDSAS demands that these teachers are paid without delay. "Similar to the Eastern Cape teachers and learners have to suffer because of bad management by the education department. Teachers are critically important in the education chain - departments have to learn that the payment of teachers simply isn't the first place to cut costs. The question has to be asked why teachers have to carry this burden alone - did education officials and the MEC receive their salaries?"

(FEDSAS is a voluntary association of school governing bodies of public schools and supports quality education in these schools. Some 1100 public schools are already members of FEDSAS).

Statement issued by Mrs Constanze van der Walt, FEDSAS provincial manager: Mpumalanga, and Mr Paul Colditz FEDSAS CEO, February 28 2011

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