Schools have reopened after the 21 day long public service strike, which brought some schools in Grahamstown East to a complete standstill, was suspended. “I am happy to be back at school. Work is back to normal and its like we were never on strike,” said Simlindile Xanga, a Grade 8 learner at Nombulelo Secondary School.
Schools have reopened after the 21 day long public service strike, which brought some schools in Grahamstown East to a complete standstill, was suspended. “I am happy to be back at school. Work is back to normal and its like we were never on strike,” said Simlindile Xanga, a Grade 8 learner at Nombulelo Secondary School.
Enjoying his breaktime, he did not seem too perturbed about the time that was lost during the strike. When Grocott’s Mail arrived at the school, the parking bays were filled with staff vehicles which showed that the teachers were back at work.
Breaktime was buzzing and the learners were playing and listening to music, but they said they do know how much work awaits them when lessons get into full swing.
“So far, we haven’t heard anything, but from what the teachers tell us, we have got lots of work lined up,” said Siyavuya Duku, a Grade 10 learner.
Her tone is relaxed, knowing that she still has lots of time left at school. Mayibongwe Titi, a Grade 12 who was interviewed by Grocott’s Mail during the strike, was happy to be resuming classes, but grudgingly admitted that the “time lost could never be returned”.
His classmates agreed with him but one learner recognised a positive element: “The strike was very helpful for self-study and it gave us time to study and be ready for exams, but we lost out on class time,” said Nomvuyo Fiyani, another Grade 12 learner at the school.
Speaking on the march that took place at Victoria Girl’s High on Monday, principal Madeleine Schoeman called it “a difficult situation” as the joint mandating committee (JMC) made up of all Cosatu affiliated unions were not willing to sit for a meeting.
“We never prevented our staff members from striking, but we also could not prevent learners from studying either,” said Schoeman.
She said that the school had invited the JMC to a meeting the week before, but were taken aback by their aggressive behaviour on Monday and said it will be difficult to hold a meeting with them in the future.
