Approximately 60 South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) members picketed outside the Grahamstown education district offices on Monday 16 May.
Approximately 60 South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) members picketed outside the Grahamstown education district offices on Monday 16 May.
The teachers were picketing for resolutions that were take by the ANC during the party’s 53rd National Conference Mangaung conference back in 2012. They said the department has failed to implement all the resolutions and they are now going to protest up until the resolutions have been implemented.
Deputy Secretary of Sadtu in the Western Region, Gwen Mvula-Jamela, said the ruling party has failed to implement its resolutions like permanent employment of teachers (caretakers, special needs assistants and clerical officers), non-teaching staff, therapists in schools and decreasing the number of pupils in classes.
“This is not only happening here in Grahamstown but its a national matter. We are dissatisfied by the non-implementation of the resolutions that the were taken in Mangaung,” said Mvula-Jamela.
“The department of basic education is not taking into account issues that impede delivery of quality public teaching and learning.
“The resolution of ANC in Mangaung made it clear and declared education as a societal matter and also the department was given a task of going away with the Peter Morkel model of education.
“We demand small classes, therapists and permanent employment of teachers and non teaching staff as agreed,” said Mvula-Jamela.
She said that Sadtu will carry on with the picketing until the department of basic education implements their demands.
Questions that were emailed to the Eastern Cape department of education spokesperson Mali Mtima during the week were not answered and his phone was also not answered yesterday.
