THOUSANDS of teachers in KwaZulu-Natal are threatening to down tools if the province's education department continues to ignore their demands.

The teachers made the threat during a march in Durban at the weekend when they also called for "a living wage" for Grade R teachers, most of whom are National Teachers Union (Natu) members.

Natu wants the department to pay Grade R teachers R7000 a month instead of the of R5000 (up from R4000) it had previously announced.

Natu deputy president Allen Thompson said the raise was not enough. "We demand that they be employed permanently and enjoy benefits similar to other government employees," Thompson said.

"We also want the department to adjust salaries with effect from April 1 2011 and pay them R7000.

"The department must also recognise their qualifications just like the other provinces in the country do," he said.

One of the Grade R teachers, Nomusa Zondi, said the department was looking down on the services and good work done by Grade R teachers.

"We are not fully recognised as teachers," she said. "We can't survive on this salary. It's just too little."

The Natu memorandum also talks about overcrowding in classrooms and demands that the department's " corrupt" officials be fired.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for education Senzo Mchunu, provincial premier Zweli Mkhize and speaker of the legislature Peggy Nkonyeni are expected to respond to the teachers' demands within 14 days.

Provincial department of education spokesman Muzi Mhlambi said: "We acknowledge receiving the memorandum. We will study it and respond at the appropriate time."