“Regional director must go” say teachers

Members of South African Democratic Teachers Union in the Ilembe district are on strike, demanding the removal of department of education regional director Thembinkosi Vilakazi.

The strike started on Friday, with a protest outside the Department of Education in KwaDukuza, claiming that Vilakazi is unfit for the position.

Teachers are blaming her for the low pass rate in the district.

Congress of South African Trade Unions in KwaDukuza said they are in full support of the strike.

“We are not going back to work until she is removed from her position as director,” said KwaDukuza COSATU chairperson Buhle Khuzwayo.

The shortage of subject advisors in schools, teachers for subjects like mathematics, physical science and technical subjects, schools with no principals are some of nine issues that put Vilakazi into hot water.

According to COSATU there is only one subject advisor in the region and all the other subjects in schools do not have subject advisors.

“Last year there were protests by pupils and parents asking for teachers for certain subjects to be provided in schools,” said Khuzwayo.

He also said there were no improvement plans in the district.

He said the issue of Vilakazi had been raised for the past three years, but the department had taken no action.

They are also complaining about favouritism and victimisation and the director not attending district task team meetings.

The department of education was not available for comment.