Vuyolwethu Sangotsha

Vuyolwethu Sangotsha

Teachers' unions in Eastern Cape yesterday started their boycott of the education recovery plan, though some schools support the plan.

Sadtu's spokesman Mxolisi Dimaza said their members, who will take part in the recovery plan, will have to explain why they were doing so because there were outstanding issues between the Department of Education and Sadtu.

"Teachers will not work extra hours without our differences being resolved with the department. We can't be part of the plan because of moral questions," he said.

But Sowetan has been reliably informed that some schools will not join the boycott.

A grade 12 pupil, who wanted to remain anonymous, said her school would provide the extra lessons.

"We will attend in the afternoons and on Saturdays."

The unions are boycotting the plan aimed at helping pupils catch up on time lost during the public sector strike because they failed to reach an agreement over the payment of teachers.

Dimaza said the government must pay teachers for the extra work now involved.

"If they say they don't have funds to pay our teachers for working extra hours, what are they going to do with the money deducted from teachers' salaries during the strike?" asked Dimaza.

He urged government to follow the example of KwaZulu-Natal's department of education in dealing with the issue of the recovery plan. KwaZulu-Natal has agreed to pay teachers for the extra lessons.