Teachers at a Limpopo school have been accused of resisting change after they allegedly refused to work in classrooms fitted with CCTV cameras.
Ntji Mothapo Primary School in the Ramogale section of GaMothapo village, near Mankweng, has 27 classrooms that are all fitted with cameras. Some teachers have downed tools in protest.
But a teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the cameras were installed to secure the new equipment used in the classrooms.
Each of the classrooms has an interactive white board worth R22000, which has replaced the traditional chalk board. About eight classrooms also have overhead projectors. The school has 1367 pupils from grades R to seven, with 36 teachers.
Sowetan visited the school yesterday and found most of the teachers in a staff room chatting instead of being in classrooms teaching.
Some of the pupils were playing on the school grounds while others were attending lessons.
According to the teacher, the equipment was bought through funds from government and the teachers did not object to the idea when it was pitched to them.
"It comes as a complete surprise now that teachers resolved to boycott lessons because of the installation of cameras."
The teacher said the principal was accused of embezzling the school's money and now that they had seen what he did with the money, they were bringing up other issues "unnecessarily".
The boycott allegedly started on July 29 when teachers affiliated to the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) demanded the removal of the cameras before they could return to classes.
The teachers who were seen teaching were allegedly affiliated to other unions.
Principal Ngoako Rapaledi could not be reached for comment as he was reportedly in a meeting.
Sadtu provincial secretary Matome Raphasha said: "There is an agreement between the school, ourselves as a union and the provincial education department that cameras are not supposed to be installed inside classrooms as they will interfere with the privacy of the teachers."
Departmental spokesman Naledzani Rasila said if the cameras were meant for security they should be switched off during lessons.
"But the teachers should not deprive our learners of their right to education," he said.
Teachers at the neighbouring Gerson Ntjie Secondary School work under similar circumstances and have no problem.
frankm@sowetan.co.za
Teachers boycott over CCTV
Teachers at a Limpopo school have been accused of resisting change after they allegedly refused to work in classrooms fitted with CCTV cameras.
Ntji Mothapo Primary School in the Ramogale section of GaMothapo village, near Mankweng, has 27 classrooms that are all fitted with cameras. Some teachers have downed tools in protest.
But a teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the cameras were installed to secure the new equipment used in the classrooms.
Each of the classrooms has an interactive white board worth R22000, which has replaced the traditional chalk board. About eight classrooms also have overhead projectors. The school has 1367 pupils from grades R to seven, with 36 teachers.
Sowetan visited the school yesterday and found most of the teachers in a staff room chatting instead of being in classrooms teaching.
Some of the pupils were playing on the school grounds while others were attending lessons.
According to the teacher, the equipment was bought through funds from government and the teachers did not object to the idea when it was pitched to them.
"It comes as a complete surprise now that teachers resolved to boycott lessons because of the installation of cameras."
The teacher said the principal was accused of embezzling the school's money and now that they had seen what he did with the money, they were bringing up other issues "unnecessarily".
The boycott allegedly started on July 29 when teachers affiliated to the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) demanded the removal of the cameras before they could return to classes.
The teachers who were seen teaching were allegedly affiliated to other unions.
Principal Ngoako Rapaledi could not be reached for comment as he was reportedly in a meeting.
Sadtu provincial secretary Matome Raphasha said: "There is an agreement between the school, ourselves as a union and the provincial education department that cameras are not supposed to be installed inside classrooms as they will interfere with the privacy of the teachers."
Departmental spokesman Naledzani Rasila said if the cameras were meant for security they should be switched off during lessons.
"But the teachers should not deprive our learners of their right to education," he said.
Teachers at the neighbouring Gerson Ntjie Secondary School work under similar circumstances and have no problem.
frankm@sowetan.co.za
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