Has there been sufficient reflection and negotiation on the ANA saga?

Sir
I upfront confess that as an educator, I left the classroom many years ago at a time when I believed that the struggle that was now confronting South Africa was that of transformation of our country.

I believed that now a democratic government was in power and we all as democrats should now do everything in our power to use every space we had to build a new nation, based on our democratic dispensation.

In 1980 the government of the time spent an average of R146 per capita on a black child compared to R1211 for a white child. Therefore for the black child, the backlog was huge as the transformation started.
I also confess to not knowing all the facts around the topic I am writing about that of SADTU and NEPTOSA educators (and other unions) unwillingness to administer Annual National Assessments (ANA) this year.
All I know is the joyful anticipation of my granddaughter in grade 5 who was to write ANA this year and was asking me to help her prepare for this as she said ANA was, “a very important national exam”. She wanted to “do very well” because ANA “is important.”

Of course, my little one is always prone to exaggeration. So poor granny had to keep asking questions and giving her exercises to write based on what she said was likely to be asked. Granny never wrote ANA but is positive that government is trying to help improve our poor ratings in maths and literacy. Granny wants the best for her granddaughter and many other little ones who see themselves as firefighters, doctors, presidents, nurses, economists, pilots, and teachers of the future, especially those who come from communities where education was a privilege and where in 1953 Dr Verwoerd had said they should not be given education, “…that is of no avail for him (them) to receive training which has its aim in the absorption into the European Community, where he (they) cannot be absorbed.” He argued that black children were being exposed to education that was “showing him (them) the greener pastures of European Society where he (they) are not allowed to graze”. (quoted in Kallaway, 1992)
A week later, after we prepared for the coming ANA, the news broke out that ANA was to be postponed for 2016 for reasons both SADTU and NEPTOSA have articulated in public media. I reiterate that not being in the space, I cannot judge the veracity of the issues at hand. All I want to ask is why did it take this late for teachers to come to this decision? Why, of all issues of bargain, choose this critical exam to reject to administer?
Has there been sufficient reflection and negotiation on this matter? Are all educators really unanimous on this decision! Is this strategy and tactic the best to achieve the outcome of better working conditions or quality of education in South Africa? Why disappoint this little girl (who by the way represents many learners’ aspirations) for whom ANA was an important step in her development? I write to appeal to our educators as a granny, parent, a person who dreams of a South Africa where maths achievement for children, especially in townships and rural areas, remains low.

I dream of excellence emerging in those spaces once condemned to inferiority by Dr Verwoerd! I write to plead with our educators to reconsider their decision not to administer ANA. The face of anticipation on my granddaughter is enough to tell me ANA means something to the little seeds for tomorrow! I urge you sisters, brothers daughters and sons to reconsider. It is not cowardice to listen to the voice outside yours.

The overwhelming public opinion unsupportive of your stance suggests that, this time around, you should put aside your inconveniences, administer ANA and then go back to the negotiation table with the Minister to make suggestions that will enhance the ANA and standard of education of our kids. By so doing you will be showing leadership! We respect you as educators. Without you there is no knowledge generation, no economy. We are who we are because of you.

We know all may not be well for you in your conditions of service BUT to be an educator is a profound calling that should not be taken lightly; that is why we struggled for a constitution that returns our human dignity and worth; a constitution that puts a child at the centre, a constitution that believes in rights and responsibilities and a constitution that is based on dialogue and consensus seeking.

If there is indeed a problem of overload, Minister, should consider bringing on board the wealth of wisdom in the country to see how educators can be assisted in administering ANA. In a typical South African way, I believe thousands of South Africans will come out to volunteer their services this year whilst the Minister finds a lasting solution to the problem!
As we used to say in the difficult struggle days “die mamas. die papas, die tannies, die honde….alles is in the struggle” and dare I add “the gogos (grandmothers) are also in the struggle” Let us all be in the struggle to improve our education outcomes in the country.

Not administering ANA this year simply sends an unfortunate message!
Thoko Mpumlwana
A grand mother