Teacher strikes to be banned
BATTLE lines have been drawn over the plan to declare teaching an essential service - a move that will ban teachers from embarking on strikes.
UNITED FRONT: Ngoako Ramatlhodi, Jackson Mthembu, Gwede Mantashe, Lindiwe Zulu and Naledi Pandor briefed the media after the ANC's NEC lekgotla at the weekend. PHOTO: MOHAU MOFOKENGSenior ANC leaders yesterday warned that the ruling party would push ahead with plans to ban teacher strikes.
Secretary general Gwede Mantashe, the party's education and health sub-committee chairwoman Naledi Pandor and social transformation sub-committee chairwoman Lindiwe Sisulu vowed that the party would implement the plan.
The trio said the ANC national executive committee (NEC) lekgotla had over the weekend resolved to give this directive to cabinet, which is expected to implement the plan.
Although Mantashe cautioned against pre-empting decisions that would emerge out of the cabinet lekgotla, which is yet to take place, it is expected the NEC will hold sway.
Pandor is minister of home affairs while Sisulu is minister of public service and administration.
However, the party looks likely to first seek the buy-in of alliance partner Cosatu and its affiliate the SA Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) before moving ahead with the initiative.
"We need to first deal with education as an essential service from an attitudinal point of view before we even talk about legislation," Mantashe said.
"Understand that when you threaten education, you don't necessarily threaten life and limb but you do threaten the growth and survival of the country."
The move is likely to lead to a confrontation between the government and teacher unions.
The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA (Naptosa) and Sadtu are opposed to the ANC's decision.
Naptosa president Basil Manuel yesterday said declaring teaching an essential service would not provide the "quick fix many are hoping for".
Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said the move "is the wrong remedy" as this would not address the real problems in education.
Sisulu said: "The level of [teacher] absenteeism in education is shocking. It goes up to 50%.
"Teachers have to commit to changing their attitudes. There will be no progression in wage settlements until there is this agreement."
Among those declared as essential services are health professionals who work in medical facilities.
The level of teacher absenteeism in education is shocking
COMMENT BELOW: Do you think that teachers have a right to strike for their rights, or it's a good idea to ban strikes so teaching learners throughout their full school year become priority number one?
Most Popular
-
No Viewed Articles yet
Comments
Dubul'Amanzi
I think ANC NEC was narrow minded,the problem is not striking teachers but unqualified teachers.How many times do teachers strike?Once I guess and the results remain the same.Lastly this thing of 20% passing mark is killing our education standard in South Africa.Lastly Angie Is not a good minister hence she must resign.Lastly I think we should merge public schools with private schools.Report Abuse
MommaC
If the SAD teachers' union hadn't abused their right to strike, this would not have happened.Unfortunately, Marikana and De Doons has taught us that legalities of a strike doesn't really bother anyone very much.
Report Abuse
Rragwe
ANC rule,with that huge support from kwa zulu natal, no one will chalenge the anc nor cosatu nor DA.mantash warned mining industry,bussiness and now youth subsidy is going to be impemented and teachers are to be declared one of the essential service. those eras of cosatu being against everything that the goverment want to implement are gone
Report Abuse
!#Sinudeity#!
Yeah, f*** the teachers unions. You can spot a lazy and incompetent teacher, by checking if they belong to a union. Only way lazy and incompetent teachers can keep their jobs, is by having thousands of people protest in their names.Rragwe - You are being challenged by the DA. ANC is cr@pping in its underwear about the upcoming election.
Report Abuse
grunt
A move long overdue but some credit to the ANC for at last seeing the light.Report Abuse
Pointman
Do it already - our kids must no longer be held hostage to SADTU's irresponsible and churlish behaviour.. Any why is Naledi and Lindiwe pushing the plan - where is Angie?Report Abuse
TDK
I wish the move could have adverse outcome at the next year general elections. Remember that South African Dom Teachers' Union is always at loggerheads with the department education. The union always incline their membership to vote for the ruling party. Now i want to see if the ruling party would go with their plan ahead or after the general elections.Report Abuse
Pointman
Dubul'AmanziI think we should merge public schools with private schools.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No!!! - don't destroy what is working. Many parents even poor ones have turned to privately run schools in despair so let us not f them up too. At least some of our kids are getting a decent education.
Report Abuse
imfene
The unions being one part of the dysfunction. The other part being the incompetent and unmanaged civil service of anc cadres who need a second civil service of consultants to do their work for them.Report Abuse
ancnduntsu
I doubt with gen elections next year.Report Abuse
Read all 31 comments