SADTU up in arms at district office

Overcrowding of classrooms; an outdated curriculum; nepotism; discrimination against women and the sidelining of special needs schools.

These were the protests of the East Rand members of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) when they picketed outside the Gauteng Department of Education district offices in Springs, on Wednesday afternoon.

“It is time for the Department of Education to listen to us,” chanted SADTU East Rand chairperson, Peter Moropa.

SADTU members gathered from all corners of the district to unite against the dissatisfactory and discriminatory education system and education department protocols in Gauteng and nationally.

The picket, which broke out at 12pm, had the attention of onlookers as SADTU members chanted and broke out in liberation songs and cries against the injustice to education and the education system.

“These and other matters have been brought before the department many times, but continue to be unresolved and elusive,” explained the treasurer of SADTU in Brakpan, MJ Madlisa.

He further explained that the nepotism within the department is eating at the core of quality education and the improvement thereof.

“Promotional posts are reserved for those who know the right people, not necessarily for the most qualified,” he said angrily.

“Furthermore, the department would rather settle for high class ratios and sizes in our schools than to hire more teachers to accommodate them. That is simply not on!”

The outcry for a more updated and relevant curriculum was another major point of contention for the SADTU members, as they expressed their views about the new curriculum being of no use when it comes to its implementation.

“There is no point in introducing a curriculum that is supposedly meant to improve our education and enrich both learners and educators, when poor management of class ratios and class sizes are overlooked, limiting the optimum performance of teachers and learners alike,” said Madlisa.

It is in this spirit, and in the interest of the learners, that SADTU members wanted answers from the department, particularly the district director, Maureen Mthimunye.

“She is busy sitting in her high office, while we demand answers,” exclaimed Madlisa, as he was echoed by the chants of the crowd behind him.

Picketers had questions as to why none of the SADTU members who work for the said district office were not allowed to partake in the proceedings.

“We demand to know why our fellow comrades are not here with us,” he said. “Maybe they are being locked inside by Maureen, and if that is the case, we want to know!”

In his address to fellow members and picketers, as well as onlookers, Moropa declared war on the national office of the Department of Education.

“This is a national programme,” shouted Moropa. “The people who work in this office are not the main focus – they are just implementers of the resolutions that are made nationally, which is why we are marching to the head offices on May 27.”

Moropa emphasised that the higher ranks of the Department of Education must account for the challenges that learners and educators are facing, and propose measures in which the said challenges can be addressed.

“Our focus right now is on the Gauteng MEC of Education, Panyaza Lesufi and the Minister of Education, Angie Motshekga,” he said.

Moropa proposed that there are discrepancies and misrepresentations made when it comes to the measurement of school performance, particularly during the release of matric results, every year.

He elaborated that the department misleads people in its interpretation of statistics, as they do not reflect the demographics and challenges faced by government schools, as opposed to the privilege experienced by independent schools.

“Annually, the government sings the praises of the schools in the Western Cape and model-C schools regarding their results, but fails to explain that the majority of those schools are independent, and facing fewer challenges than our schools, townships schools in particular,” said Moropa.

SADTU East Rand resolved that it would not discontinue the programme until the grievances raised are addressed and properly and effectively managed to avoid future recurrence.

“We will meet on May 27,” declared Moropa to his constituents.

We were unable to get an official comment from district director, Maureen Mthimunye, who has referred us to the Office of the MEC. We are currently awaiting feedback.