The Democratic Alliance (DA) took to the streets in a bid to voice their dissatisfaction with the Eastern Cape Department of Education.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) took to the streets in a bid to voice their dissatisfaction with the Eastern Cape Department of Education.
Andrew Whitfield, DA Member of Parliament in the Frontier Constituency, told Grocott’s Mail his party has embarked on a campaign that aims to create awareness about the shortage of teachers in the province.
“We have been gathering signatures for the past month from the general public to petition to create awareness in Bhisho for the critical situation that has been developing,” Whitfield said.
The campaign, “One teacher, one classroom”, aims to provide quality education to young learners. It is Whitfield's belief that poor education is the most critical factor preventing our economy from growing.
“Education in the country is in a critical condition and this effort to try and raise awareness surrounds specifically the shortage of teachers in the Eastern Cape,” he added.
The plan is to table that petition to the DA’s spokesperson in Bhisho, Edmund van Vuuren.
This has to be done by every DA constituency across the province. Genevieve Cannon, the regional campaign manager, echoed Whitfield’s sentiments, saying every child has the right to education.
“So far we have more than 2 000 [signatures on a petition]and we are going to give that to our department of education,” she said.
Cannon stressed that this campaign is not about the DA, ANC, or any other political party but about the future of the children.
